NFL FanHouse

NFL FanHouse Preview Chat Recap

Bruce Ciskie — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Bengals, Colts, Ravens, Saints, NFL Fans, NFL Live Blogging

Most teams will play their eighth game this week, meaning that we're hitting the halfway mark. Already, there's talk of 16-0 teams and teams that have played themselves out of serious contention.

We previewed this weekend's big games, got your predictions, and found out who you think has the better shot of running the table among the remaining unbeatens. Read all about it after the jump.

&lt;a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php?option=com_mobile&amp;task=viewaltcast&amp;altcast_code=b2b20c2f1f" &gt;NFL FanHouse Week 9 Chat&lt;/a&gt;

NFL FanHouse Preview Chat Recap originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sorry, Favre-Haters, Vikings Best in NFC

Dan Graziano — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Ravens, Saints, Vikings, NFL Quarterbacks, NFL Analysis

Face it, people. The only reason you don't want to believe this about the Minnesota Vikings is because of him. And honestly, that's fair. Brett Favre drives everybody crazy all summer with his anguished, will-he-or-won't-he retirement drama. There are and should be consequences for something like that. In this case, the consequence is that you won't let yourself believe the gray-haired Sears pitchman from Mississippi has his hands on the reins of the best team in the NFC.

But I'm sorry to report that Favre and the Vikings don't care what you think, because as of this morning they were 6-0. And regardless of how good the Saints looked against the Giants, Minnesota is the deserving favorite to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.

The counter-arguments to this assertion are few, but they're out there. People think Favre is too old, or that he'll blow it in the end like he did with the Jets last year. There's a school of thought that Brad Childress isn't a good enough coach to pull off a Super Bowl run. And finally, there's the general feeling today that the Saints deserve the title of Best-in-NFC right now because of how badly they beat the previously unbeaten Giants on Sunday.

Well, Favre is old, but the only reason he blew it with the Jets last year is because he hurt his arm. If he stays healthy, there's no reason to think he can't quarterback this team to a title. He's won a title before and knows what it takes. He's playing under control, avoiding risks and taking over the game with his arm only when that's called for. See, the secret about this year's Vikings is that they were already a Super Bowl contender before Favre signed on. They're not about who's playing quarterback. They're about all-world running back Adrian Peterson and a defensive line that, for the past three years, as made the Vikings as hard on opponents' running games as their own running game is on opponents' defenses. They're about depth of talent all over the field. They're stacked, and what Favre brought them is a veteran's cool and confidence at a position where that was lacking.

As for Childress, I don't know. He may be too dopey a coach to win a Super Bowl. But he may not, and it's not as if we have a pile of evidence at this point that he'll be the one that stands in the way. It's not as if the Vikings have been knocking on the door the past few years and missed out on a Super Bowl trip because of poor decisions made by the coach. Childress has never had this good a team before (Favre says he hasn't either), and frankly these Vikings are the kind of team that can make a coach look like a genius.

And then there's this: How do we really know the team the Saints beat Sunday is better than the team the Vikings beat? Sure, the Giants came in 5-0, but against a schedule that would keep them out of contention for the BCS title game. New York's wins were against the Redskins, Cowboys, Buccaneers, Chiefs and Raiders -- a crew with a combined record of 8-21. Dallas, the only team in that fearsome fivesome with a winning record, ran up 250 rushing yards on the G-men and might have won the game had they not managed it so stupidly in the fourth quarter. I think the Giants are a good team, but what have they done this year to prove that another good team, playing at home and coming off its bye, shouldn't be able to handle them?

The Vikings on Sunday beat the Ravens, whose .500 record keeps them out of the discussion about the league's best teams -- for now. Baltimore's record is a particularly brutal 3-3. They were 3-0, remember, and rightfully atop many of the weekly power rankings charts, before losing last-minute heartbreakers to the Patriots and Bengals (each of whom is 4-2). Desperate for a win this week, they mounted a furious rally and had were a field goal away from taking down Favre, Peterson and the gang in Minnesota. Yes, the good teams find ways to win, but the Ravens will be heard from before all is said and done. They finished just one game worse, remember, than the Super Bowl champion Steelers a year ago. In Joe Flacco, they have one of the league's best young quarterbacks. In Ray Rice, they have one of the league's most thrilling running backs of any age.

Those who would base their claim that the Saints are the NFC's best on the fact that they just smoked the Giants would be wise to consider just what they were really watching. Minnesota's victory over Baltimore Sunday was at least as good a win as the Saints' victory over the Giants was, and maybe better -- a validating victory after the Vikings' own soft-schedule start to the season.

Things continue to get tougher for Minnesota. They travel to Pittsburgh this week, and the week after they head to Green Bay for a game that will ooze emotion and network-driven hype like few ever have. But with the depth of talent they have on both lines, a slew of skill-position superstars in their 20s, 30s and 40s and the confidence they've amassed during the season's first six games, these Vikings are built to handle it. And to win the NFC.

Sorry, Favre-Haters, Vikings Best in NFC originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Childress, Vikings Survive Ravens Scare

Matt Snyder — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 17:05:00 EST

Filed under: Ravens, Vikings, AFC North, NFC North

Things seemed pretty elementary for the Minnesota Vikings through much of their game Sunday afternoon. They held a 14-0 lead over the Baltimore Ravens after a quarter, a 14-3 halftime lead, and then a 27-10 margin early in the fourth quarter -- margins that likely inspired tons of confidence for the Vikes. Who would have thought they would need to be bailed out by a missed field goal as time expired in order to escape with a victory?

Yet that's exactly what happened, because the Ravens, behind explosive plays from Joe Flacco, Ray Rice, Derrick Mason and Mark Clayton, used just 11 offensive plays in 6:24 to score three touchdowns and take a 31-30 fourth-quarter lead. The Vikings did drive down and kick a field goal with 2:00 left in the game, which made the score -- the eventual final -- 33-31.

More: Check Box Score | Saints Clobber Giants, Stay Undefeated

Flacco wasn't done, though, as he marched the Ravens right down into field-goal range. Steven Hauschka, the second-year kicker from N.C. State had a chance to win the game for the Ravens, but his 44-yard field goal sailed wide left as the Vikings prevailed.

Both teams, heading into the game, had well-deserved reputations for strong defenses. Instead of a gritty, run-and-defense battle everyone expected, we were treated to an offensive onslaught -- even if the majority of the Ravens' offense occurred during that late 11-play stretch. The two teams combined for 874 yards of total offense and averaged nearly seven yards per offensive play (Ravens 7.0, Vikings 6.8). The stat-lines show both teams with star performances on offense.

Brett Favre hit on 21-of-29 passes for 278 yards and three touchdowns. Joe Flacco connected on 28-of-43 passes for 385 yards and two touchdowns. Neither signal-caller turned it over.

Ray Rice had 194 yards from scrimmage, which includes 10 receptions, and two touchdowns. Adrian Peterson carried the ball 22 times for 143 yards, also adding 23 receiving yards.

Derrick Mason caught seven balls for 97 yards and a score, while Mark Clayton added 57 receiving yards and a touchdown. Sidney Rice, the Vikings' 6-foot-4 wideout, caught 6 passes for 176 yards and Bernard Berrian added a touchdown. Also, tight end Visanthe Shiancoe hauled in a pair of touchdowns from Favre.

This was simply an offensive explosion which, unfortunately, was decided on a missed field goal. Had Hauschka converted the field goal, Vikings coach Brad Childress would likely have had to answer for his play-calling down the stretch. Instead of trying to score a touchdown, Childress played for a field goal -- and two-point lead -- with 2:00 left on the clock. Flacco had already thrown for almost 350 yards on his defense and the Ravens had scored three touchdowns in their last 11 plays. And Childress thought two points was good enough to win with 2:00 left on the clock.

He turned out to be correct, by the skin of his teeth. All's well that ends well, apparently, and the Vikings are 6-0. They'll face another tough test in Week 7, as they travel to Pittsburgh to face the defending Super Bowl champion Steelers.

The Ravens will look to lick their wounds -- they've now lost three in a row after starting 3-0 -- on a bye next week, before facing the surprising Broncos in Week 8 at home.

Childress, Vikings Survive Ravens Scare originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 18 Oct 2009 17:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Are Chiefs Ready to Move Dwayne Bowe?

Chris Burke — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 23:35:00 EST

Filed under: Chiefs, Dolphins, Ravens, NFL Rumors

Through the first two seasons of his NFL career, wide receiver Dwayne Bowe looked destined to be a superstar in Kansas City for years to come. In 2007, Bowe's rookie season out of LSU, he had 995 yards receiving, then topped that number in 2008 with 1,022 yards and seven touchdowns.

Year 3, though, has not gone as well. Bowe got off on the wrong foot with new Kansas City head coach Todd Haley -- losing his starting spot in the preseason due to work-ethic questions -- including coming to offseason workouts overweight. He then struggled with a nagging hamstring injury, and has just 15 catches in four games this season.

And with Kansas City 0-5 and apparently in need of a complete overhaul, Bowe's name continues to surface as Tuesday's trade deadline looms.

The speculation kicked up a notch Friday when ESPN claimed that the Ravens were prepared to offer a second- and fifth-round pick for Bowe. Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh did nothing to dispel those rumors, saying that "there are possibilities" for his team on the trade market.

Baltimore has come up in association with just about every available receiver since the offseason -- including Brandon Marshall -- and nearly found itself forced into making a move back in July when Derrick Mason briefly announced his retirement.

The Ravens quelled some of the concerns about their wide receiver group by opening the season 3-0 and scoring 30 points or more in each of those victories. But back-to-back losses to New England and Cincinnati have forced those issues to resurface. The Week 5 loss to the Bengals was particularly troubling offensively, with Baltimore receiver's catching just four of 22 Joe Flacco completions and Mason finishing with no grabs.

From Baltimore's perspective, unloading a pair of picks for Bowe would make complete sense given the Ravens' belief that they can contend for a Super Bowl title this season. Bowe and Mason would give Baltimore a very talented 1-2 punch and further open the ground game for Ray Rice and Willis McGahee.

The deal makes less obvious sense for Kansas City -- it's never that wise to dump a top-flight 25-year-old receiver. Still, the Chiefs are clearly in rebuilding mode (despite the hefty extension they gave Matt Cassel) and Bowe's occasional hiccups with Haley might help label him as expendable.

That said, should the Chiefs opt to move Bowe, it's far from a lock that the Ravens would land him. They aren't the only team searching for WR help, after all.

The Dolphins might be more than willing to unload a second- and fifth-round pick -- or even up the ante slightly -- if the Chiefs dangle Bowe. Miami's current top three of Davone Bess, Greg Camarillo and Ted Ginn has been decent this season, but far from spectacular -- and with Chad Henne now under center, Miami needs some players that can stretch the field.

Miami's interest in Bowe could increase should the Dolphins go into New York and knock off the Jets this week. That would put them at 3-3 and smack dab in the thick of the AFC East race. Even without a victory, taking a shot at Bowe could be worth it -- the Dolphins would have him under contract through at least 2011 and finally have a real No. 1 receiver.

It's not likely that Kansas City unloads Bowe given his natural ability. It's possible, though, and something to keep an eye on as Tuesday closes in.

Are Chiefs Ready to Move Dwayne Bowe? originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 23:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NFL Fines Ray Lewis $25,000, Goodell Ignores Ochocinco's Request

Michael David Smith — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:48:00 EST

Filed under: Bengals, Ravens

The National Football League has fined Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis $25,000 for a hit on Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco on Sunday, ignoring Ochocinco's request that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell spare Lewis a fine.

The hit happened when Ochocinco was running a pattern over the middle, and it sent Ochocinco's helmet flying and drew a 15-yard penalty, helping the Bengals get into position for their game-winning touchdown in a 17-14 victory. After the game, Ochocinco posted a direct request to Goodell on Twitter, saying there was no harm done and he didn't want to see Lewis lose money.

Goodell, however, didn't listen: ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported on Friday that Lewis's next paycheck will be $25,000 lighter. The Baltimore Sun notes that the fine represents 42.5 percent of Lewis' $58,823 weekly salary.

And while Ochocinco might not like it, this was obviously the right call: Lewis clearly led with his helmet and drilled a defenseless receiver in the chops. That's a textbook personal foul, and it's a play that gets players fined every week.

UPDATE: Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that Lewis was fined for two acts: The hit on Ochocinco and kicking an opponent.

Follow sports? Follow me on Twitter @MichaelDavSmith.

NFL Fines Ray Lewis $25,000, Goodell Ignores Ochocinco's Request originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:48:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Zebra Report: Refs Made Correct No-Call On Redskins' Costly Muffed Punt

Matt Snyder — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Bengals, Giants, Panthers, Raiders, Ravens, Redskins, NFL Referees

Zebra Report is FanHouse's analysis of actual NFL rules and how they are to be applied ... because most fans think they could do a better job than the NFL officials, yet definitely could not. Click here for an introduction as to how we do things.

One week later and we know now that the league is mandating the roughing the passer calls we discussed last week. This past week, we also learned that the league admitted error on the Mike Sims-Walker touchdown we discussed, which should help to relieve some of the tension fans are carrying about a perceived lack of accountability. I was pleased to see the league's admission. Let's get to the reviews for this week.

Antwaan Randle El is contacted by his own teammate while trying to catch a punt -- the Panthers recovered the retained the football in the aftermath. As you can see in the youtube video below, Randle El's teammate was clearly blocked into him by a member of the Panthers coverage unit. Watch and see -- the play begins at the 3:22 mark.

After the game, referee Walt Coleman explained:

"What happened was, the two guys were blocking each other. The Washington guy got blocked into his own man, so there was no interference. All we had to figure out who touched it first. If the Washington player is stationary and just standing there and not trying to block, then he can't do that. If they are both trying to block, then he can knock him into him. Because they were both engaged, then that's why there wasn't a foul or anything wrong with that play. If the Washington player is stationary and just standing there and the Carolina player had come down there and knocked him, then it would have been totally different."

Coleman is referring to a very specific and important part of Rule 10-1-1-Item 1 (it's bolded):

It is interference if a player of the kicking team contacts the receiver, or causes a passive player of either team to contact the receiver, before or simultaneous to his touching the ball.

From watching the highlight, it is very clear the Redskins player was actively attempting (attempting being the operative word because he was being physically dominated) to block the Panthers' coverage man, so he was not passive in the least. Thus, there is no penalty for kick-catching interference and the officials made the correct call.

For what it's worth, Redskins head coach Jim Zorn now understands the call but stopped short of expressing regret in wasting a challenge on the play.

"It was very difficult at that particular time, he said. "I talked to NFL Vice President of Officiating Mike Pereira about that this morning about the rule. I read the paragraph in the rule book which talks about getting the opportunity to have a fair catch. It was explained within that paragraph what the problem was. I could have saved a timeout, but it was worth it for me to challenge. That was a key play in the game. I wasn't going to save a timeout for that. It was my duty, in my mind, to challenge that."

Reader Scott submitted this play for examination:

"On an extra point try (in the Bengals-Ravens game), the ball was snapped wide of the holder and a scramble ensued. Once the ball was recovered by a Ravens player, the play was whistled dead. However, this was all rendered moot because a flag was thrown for illegal procedure, lining up over center. What exactly does that mean and what is the rule? Second, is there ever a time that a defensive team can recover a ball during a point after or two-point conversion and attempt to score?"

First of all, thanks for the submission, Scott. Both parts of the question are cut-and-dry rules, though possibly not known to many fans.

Rule 7-2-2 - During a field-goal attempt or a Kick Try, a Team B player, who is within one yard of the line of scrimmage at the snap, must have his helmet outside the snapper's shoulder pads.

There could be some confusion here because in high school and all lower levels, you can line up directly over the center, you just have to give him the opportunity to raise his head after the snap before contacting him. The NFL probably just didn't want to deal with judging what a reasonable amount of time was for the snapper to raise his head. Trust me, there are plenty of high school teams who tell their snapper to never raise his head -- then complain he was roughed when someone waits two seconds before trying to break through.

As for the second part of the question ...

Rule 11-3-2c: If the defense gains possession, the ball is dead immediately. The defensive team cannot score during a Try.

The confusion here likely stems from college football, where the defense can return an extra point attempt for two points.

Justin Fargas fumbles as his forward progress is stopped ... or is it? You can check out the video in MDS' post about Darrius Heyward-Bey's blazing speed. Fortunately this play had no bearing on the outcome of the game, as the Giants stomped a mud-hole in the Raiders. The reason I say "fortunately" is because I believe the decision on when to blow the whistle on plays like this is the most difficult thing any official has to do during any given game. Blowing the whistle a millisecond too early or too late could gravely cost either team. If a team believes their ball-carrier was about to break free, it's the fault of the official. If the defense believes they caused a fumble before the progress was stopped, but a whistle was blown, it's the fault of the official.

I actually wrote more in depth about the difficulty of when to blow the whistle last season. I firmly believe this is one of those things where you truly don't know what it's like until you've experienced it (and if you have, you know what I'm talking about).

Got a rules-related question? Whether it's elementary, high school or NFL, email TZR and he'll see what he can do.

Zebra Report: Refs Made Correct No-Call On Redskins' Costly Muffed Punt originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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David Tyree Resurfaces in Baltimore

Chris Burke — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Ravens, NFL Free Agency

Super Bowl XLII hero David Tyree is about to get another crack in the NFL. Tyree, whom was cut by the Giants in September, has agreed to a deal with the Baltimore Ravens, the team announced Wednesday.

Tyree was reportedly scheduled to tryout for Tampa Bay later this week, but after a Monday workout in Baltimore, was able to come to terms with the Ravens.

Tyree played for six seasons in New York, the only prior stop in his NFL career. He has 54 career regular-season catches for 650 yards and four touchdowns.

More NFL News: Patriots Reportedly Bring Back Junior Seau

All of those numbers pale in comparison to Tyree's Super Bowl effort, of course. In the Giants' dramatic 17-14 win over New England back on Feb. 3, 2008, Tyree hauled in three catches for 43 yards and a touchdown. His acrobatic fourth-quarter grab setup New York's title-clinching touchdown and is arguably one of the greatest plays in Super Bowl history.

Ironically, Tyree never caught another pass for the Giants due to a knee injury that cost him all of the 2008 season.

He may not see many passes in Baltimore, either, barring injury. In Mark Clayton, Derrick Mason and Kelley Washington, the Ravens already have a sturdy group at the wide receiver, but Tyree will add depth and experience. He also should see some work on special teams -- Baltimore lost special-teams dynamo Brandon Ayanbadejo for the year due to injury, so the door could be open for Tyree to play on the kick and punt units.

David Tyree Resurfaces in Baltimore originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chad Ochocinco Tweets Request to NFL Not to Fine Ray Lewis

Michael David Smith — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 10:35:00 EST

Filed under: Bengals, Ravens

Prior to Sunday's Ravens-Bengals game, Cincinnati wide receiver Chad Ochocinco posted a link on Twitter to a video of Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis drilling him in a 2007 game, and he vowed that Lewis wouldn't be able to knock him down again.

As it turned out, it did happen again: Lewis nailed Ochocinco during the game, drawing a 15-yard personal foul penalty. But Ochocinco went back to Twitter to ask NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell not to fine Lewis for the hit.

Immediately following the game, Ochocinco tweeted:

Beautify game, Ray knock my head off, all part of the game, I love my big brother Ray Lewis, hope you all enjoyed thee event !!!!!

And then a couple hours later, Ochocinco posted another tweet, directing it to Goodell's Twitter account:

@nflcommish please don't fine Ray Lewis Mr. Roger Goodell, it was a clean hit, it's part of the game, save the fines for me, Esteban out.

Although I respect Ochocinco for not wanting to see his friend get fined, I don't think Goodell is going to listen to him. The rules are clear: Helmet-to-helmet hits on defenseless receivers are not tolerated in the NFL, and Lewis is going to get fined.

Chad Ochocinco Tweets Request to NFL Not to Fine Ray Lewis originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 10:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FanHouse Preview: Bengals at Ravens

R.J. White — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Bengals, Ravens, AFC North, FanHouse Previews

Cincinnati (3-1) really could be 4-0 and would be, if not for the Madden-esque TD reception by Denver's Brandon Stokley in Week 1. Since that game, the Bengals traveled to Green Bay and beat a heavily-favored Packer team, took down world champion Pittsburgh at home, and just barely survived a letdown game in Cleveland last week.

Baltimore (3-1) feels like they should be 4-0, victimized by an iffy penalty in last week's game at Foxboro (if the game was at home, are the Ravens not penalized?). With Pittsburgh lurking, each of these Cincinnati-Baltimore games are critical in battling for a playoff spot. Most people see the Ravens as a contender, but the Bengals as a pretender.

Is that fair?

More Previews: Browns-Bills | Cowboys-Chiefs
Bucs-Eagles | Raiders-Giants | Steelers-Lions
Redskins-Panthers | Vikings-49ers

Three Key Questions:

1. Can Baltimore rookie Michael Oher transition smoothly to the blind side in replacing Jared Gaither, and will Marshall Yanda be able to slip right in on the right side?

2. Will Cedric Benson find any room to run against the No. 1 rushing defense in the league, one that allows less than 60 yards on the ground per game?

3. How many game-day tweets will we see from Chad Ochocinco?

Player in the Spotlight: Antwan Odom. After totaling a whopping seven sacks in the first two games of the season, Odom was held to just one sack combined against Pittsburgh and Cleveland. With Oher drawing his first start on the left side of the offensive line, it will be on Odom to create consistent pressure on Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco. The Bengals can't afford to blitz Flacco too often, as the Ravens have displayed the ability to hit any number of offensive weapons during a drive. The less people in coverage, the easier it will be for Flacco to find the open man. Odom's final line should be a reflection of the game result, when all is said and done.

Cincinnati's Path to Victory: The Bengals will try to establish a running game, but the deck is stacked against him. We know the Ravens' defense will be gunning for Ochocinco, so it's up to Carson Palmer to consistently find his secondary options in the passing game. If Laveranues Coles and Chris Henry turn in performances in line with their first four games, then the Bengals have no shot. So these secondary receivers will have to step up and come through on the road in a hostile Baltimore environment. It will be nearly impossible to play successfully from behind, so expect Palmer to try and get everyone involved early. If they can manage a halftime lead, allowing them to keep feeding Benson the rock, then they have a good shot at pulling off the win.

Baltimore's Path to Victory: Both Oher and Yanda are great run blockers, so Baltimore's prospects will be tied tot he ground game. The dynamic duo of Willis McGahee (255 yards, seven TDs) and Ray Rice (429 yards, one TD) should expect double-digit touches yet again. The Cincinnati defense features a pair of up-and-coming young cornerbacks, but the secondary has been susceptible to big games from little-known receivers (Cleveland's Mohamed Massaquoi and Pittsburgh's Mike Wallace) in recent weeks. Sure, they have to contain veteran Derrick Mason, but former Bengal Kelley Washington can be just as dangerous to this team.

Prediction: In order for Odom to work his magic, Cincinnati has to jump to an early lead. Expect a few shots down the field by Palmer in the first quarter. Baltimore will counter with a steady dose of Rice in between the 20s and McGahee in the red zone. If Bengals defensive tackle Tank Johnson isn't 100% over his foot injury, which held him out of the Browns game, the Ravens should have no problem moving the ball on the ground. Once the Bengals offense gets desperate, that's when the Ravens defense attacks. Baltimore should have no problem with Cincinnati in the second half, which should lead to an easy win for the Ravens. Baltimore 31, Cincinnati 16.

FanHouse Preview: Bengals at Ravens originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 11 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chad Ochocinco Tweets About Getting Flattened by Ray Lewis

Michael David Smith — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 16:20:00 EST

Filed under: Bengals, Ravens

Few athletes are as entertaining on Twitter as Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco, who despite a previous threat to stop tweeting has continued to entertain his fans this season,140 characters at a time. And on Saturday he provided his most entertaining tweet yet, including a link to the above video of himself getting knocked on his backside by Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis.

After starting a tweet with a link to that video, Ochocinco wrote the following:

this will not happen to me again, I've gained 15 pounds since this play!!!

Even if Ochocinco has really gained 15 pounds since that play (which happened in 2007, when Ochocinco's name was Chad Johnson), he's still probably about 50 pounds lighter than Lewis, and I think if the two run into each other at full speed again when the Bengals visit Baltimore on Sunday, we'll see the same result.

But I just think it's great that Ochocinco has enough of a sense of humor that he's willing to post that video of himself. That's why Ochocinco is the NFL's top Twitterer.

Chad Ochocinco Tweets About Getting Flattened by Ray Lewis originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sat, 10 Oct 2009 16:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ex-Ravens Camp Hopeful Dies Suddenly

FanHouse Newswire — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 13:40:00 EST

Filed under: Ravens

SEATTLE (AP) -- Tony Fein, an Iraq war veteran and NFL rookie linebacker who played with the Baltimore Ravens during the preseason, has died of unexplained causes on the Kitsap Peninsula of Washington state.

Fein, 27, an undrafted rookie free agent from Mississippi, was lying face down and unconscious, vomiting and barely breathing when medics arrived at a house outside Port Orchard on the Kitsap Peninsula just before 9 a.m PDT Tuesday, said Mike Wernet, a battalion chief and medical officer with South Kitsap Fire & Rescue.

The medics put a breathing tube down Fein's throat after he stopped breathing and administered medication, but he went into cardiac arrest during the drive to Harrison Medical Center in Bremerton, across Puget Sound from Seattle, and was pronounced dead at the hospital at 9:48 a.m. PDT Tuesday, Wernet told The Associated Press.

A man and woman who were present described Fein as a friend who was staying with them. They told the aid crew they awoke to find him unresponsive and vomiting.

"They didn't really give us a lot of information about what had happened the night before," apparently because they were upset, Wernet said. "They didn't indicate anything out of the ordinary."

An autopsy won't be conducted before Thursday and no report will be issued before all toxicology and other tests are complete, likely in six to eight weeks, said Allen G. Gerdes, Kitsap County chief deputy coroner.

Guy Dalrymple, a fire and rescue duty chief, did not immediately return a telephone call to The Associated Press on Wednesday.

Fein, a native of Port Orchard, was released by the Ravens in their last major round of roster cuts on Sept. 5.

"Tony Fein was a really good teammate, a tremendous American, a tremendous young man ... just a really good person," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said before Wednesday's practice in Owings Mills, Md. "We were proud to have him here as part of our team. We're unbelievably disappointed about the news."

Fein's agent, Milton D. Hobbs, a lawyer in Oxford, Miss., said he last spoke with Fein on Friday and since the death had talked with the Fein's sister, mother and some friends. He would not discuss a possible cause of death.

"He was working out and we were discussing football opportunities. That was still his goal," Hobbs said. "We talked about Canada."

Some Canadian Football League teams had expressed interest in Fein before he joined the Ravens but there had been no contacts since he was cut, the agent said.

Fein was arrested on Aug. 23 and charged with misdemeanor assault on a police officer after an incident at a restaurant at Baltimore's Inner Harbor in which the officer reportedly mistook his cellular telephone for a handgun. A trial was scheduled Wednesday, but prosecutors notified Fein's attorney last Thursday that they planned to dismiss the case because of conflicting witness accounts, state's attorney spokeswoman Marty Burns said.

Fein played quarterback for South Kitsap High School before graduating in 2000. At age 19 he enlisted in the Army and spent 2 1/2 years in Iraq as a 19 Delta reconnaissance scout.

He later enrolled at Scottsdale, Ariz., Community College, became one of the nation's top junior college recruits and played for Ole Miss in 2007 and 2008. In two seasons at Ole Miss, he had 136 tackles (77 solo) in 24 games, according to the school's Web site.

"A humble young man," Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis said of Fein, who stuck with the team until the final cut. "Our hearts definitely go out to his family because it's such a tragedy for a man to be that young and go through the things he's been through."

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Ex-Ravens Camp Hopeful Dies Suddenly originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 13:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pretty in Pink: No Matter How It Looked, Patriots Will Take Key Win

Thomas George — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 19:55:00 EST

Filed under: Patriots, Ravens

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Plenty of Ravens and Patriots players wore pink on Sunday -- matching shoes and gloves -- in honor of breast cancer awareness. Myra Kraft, wife of Patriots owner Bob Kraft, noticed.

She stood on the Patriots sideline only minutes before kickoff as both teams stretched and styled nearby. It takes a real football player to pull off pink, we agreed.

"And I am so glad they are manly enough to help with this cause,'' she said. "I wasn't so sure they would actually do it.''

The Patriots then set out to ensure that their social conscious should never be confused with their football tenacity.

They did just that -- even in pink, the Patriots still pack a punch.

More: Check Box Score | Baltimore Lineman Hospitalized

Their defense mauled the Ravens offense, stopping Baltimore on a huge fourth-and-1 Willis McGahee run near midfield with five minutes left. And then for emphasis, the Patriots defense denied the Ravens' final drive, one that ended when Baltimore receiver Mark Clayton dropped a Joe Flacco pass on fourth-and-4 inside the Patriots 10 in the game's final 30 seconds.

It was a big game for the Patriots psyche, a 27-21 victory over a previously-unbeaten AFC foe that could prove pivotal for possible playoff seedings come January.

For now, both own 3-1 records.

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Sunday, we learned that the Ravens are not dominant -- yet. We also learned that the Patriots still have a ton of fight in them.

"We stopped them on fourth down twice in the fourth quarter,'' Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. "That's when you've got to be there.''

Patriots safety Brandon Meriweather said: "(Baltimore's) a good team. This builds a little confidence for us. People still look at our defense as the question mark. We've got Tom Brady on our team, what would you expect? Who else would be the question mark? I think we played more freely on defense as this game went on.''

The Ravens were incensed at a handful of officials' calls in the game, particularly a couple of roughing the passer penalties that they believed Brady cajoled from the officials. Brady demanded a flag, it came out, he clapped and the Ravens were livid.

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FOXBORO, MA - OCTOBER 4: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots stands in a huddle during a game against the Baltimore Ravens at Gillette Stadium on October 4, 2009 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Tom Brady

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St. Louis Rams quarterback Kyle Boller (12) stands on the field after being knocked down during the third quarter against the San Francisco 49ers in an NFL football game in San Francisco, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2009. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Josh Morgan (84) catches a 24-yard touchdown in front of St. Louis Rams safety Oshiomogho Atogwe (21) and cornerback Justin King, rear, in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game in San Francisco, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2009. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

LANDOVER, MD - OCTOBER 4: Clinton Portis #26 of the Washington Redskins runs the ball against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at FedExField on October 4, 2009 in Landover, Maryland. The Redskins defeated the Buccaneers 16-13. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Clinton Portis

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LANDOVER, MD - OCTOBER 4: Cornelius Griffin #96 and Andre Carter #99 of the Washington Redskins walk off the field after the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at FedExField on October 4, 2009 in Landover, Maryland. The Redskins defeated the Buccaneers 16-13. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Cornelius Griffin;Andre Carter

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LANDOVER, MD - OCTOBER 4: Josh Johnson #11 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers runs the ball against the Washington Redskins at FedExField on October 4, 2009 in Landover, Maryland. The Redskins defeated the Buccaneers 16-13. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Josh Johnson

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LANDOVER, MD - OCTOBER 4: Carnell WIlliams #24 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers runs the ball against the Washington Redskins at FedExField on October 4, 2009 in Landover, Maryland. The Redskins defeated the Buccaneers 16-13. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Carnell WIlliams

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LANDOVER, MD - OCTOBER 4: Reed Doughty #37 of the Washington Redskins celebrates his sack of Josh Johnson #11 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at FedExField on October 4, 2009 in Landover, Maryland. The Redskins defeated the Buccaneers 16-13. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Reed Doughty;Josh Johnson

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LANDOVER, MD - OCTOBER 4: Cornelius Griffin #96 of the Washington Redskins rouses the crowd against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at FedExField on October 4, 2009 in Landover, Maryland. The Redskins defeated the Buccaneers 16-13. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Cornelius Griffin

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LANDOVER, MD - OCTOBER 4: Santana Moss #89 of the Washington Redskins runs the ball in for a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at FedExField on October 4, 2009 in Landover, Maryland. The Redskins defeated the Buccaneers 16-13. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Santana Moss

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The Ravens should have been as upset over the opening kickoff.

Patriots special teamer Eric Alexander popped Baltimore return man Chris Carr, which jarred the ball loose. New England safety Brandon McGowan recovered at the Baltimore 12 -- the game was six seconds old and the Ravens had already committed a turnover.

The miscue led to a Patriots field goal. And New England never relinquished the lead.

"On the kickoff,'' said Alexander, "I'm just trying to make a tackle. I wrapped him up and I felt the ball jiggling. We saw that the ball was jarred out from him against San Diego. We thought maybe he carries it a little more loose than other returners. That gave us a great start and a lot of confidence.''

It was back and forth in this game, with Derrick Mason (seven catches and a 20-yard touchdown grab) proving to be a headache for the Patriots secondary and Brady looking more secure with the return of receiver Wes Welker -- Brady threw 10 of his 32 passes Welker's way; Welker caught six.

Nine different New England receivers had catches, with Randy Moss cashing in one of his three grabs for his first touchdown of the year, a 14-yarder late in the third quater. Moments earlier, the Ravens defense did its thing, bringing Brady down and knocking the ball loose and into the end zone for a fumble-recovery touchdown.

The merry-go-round battle showed that the Ravens have work to do in finishing what they start -- it showed that Baltimore's victories over Kansas City, San Diego and Cleveland were a nice start, but to win on the road against an experienced bunch like the Patriots requires more consistency. More focus. More finish.

For the Patriots, this was a game that helped them realize that the potential power of this team is not a mirage. New England's difficult start to the year -- a close win over Buffalo and a thumping at the hands of the Jets -- left the Patriots with questions.

The most pressing: Is New England still truly an elite team?

But a nice dose of pink helped erase any lingering blues.

"All week we heard macho guys don't wear pink,'' Moss said. "Keep rocking that pink.''

"Some guys were very iffy about wearing that and I was one of them,'' rookie Darius Butler said. "I wore some pink wristbands, though. It gave the team something to bond on as we got ready for this tough game. I think it helped us.

"We like the results.''

Pretty in Pink: No Matter How It Looked, Patriots Will Take Key Win originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 04 Oct 2009 19:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ravens' Jared Gaither Taken Off Field on Stretcher in New England

Michael David Smith — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 14:15:00 EST

Filed under: Ravens, NFL Injuries

Baltimore Ravens left tackle Jared Gaither was carried off the field on a stretcher in New England Sunday afternoon after suffering what appeared to be a neck injury in a second-quarter collision with quarterback Joe Flacco.

The collision took place on a play on which Flacco was hit hard from both his right and his left, and as Gaither attempted to protect Flacco, he was spun around and his own head ended up hitting Flacco's back. Initially it looked like a collision that would hurt Flacco more than it hurt Gaither, but Flacco got back up while Gaither stayed on the ground.

More: Pats Hold On | Colts Win Again | Jags Bomb Titans

Play was halted for several minutes while medical personnel attended to Gaither, who appeared to be conscious and capable of moving his extremities. He was eventually carted to the locker room on a stretcher. Gaither's family was reportedly in the stands in New England and went down to the locker room to be with him.

Rookie right tackle Michael Oher was moved to left tackle to take Gaither's place, while Marshal Yanda came in at right tackle.

UPDATE: Gaither was reportedly taken to Massachusetts General Hospital for tests on his neck and shoulders. He has movement in all extremities. "It sounded like he was OK and it was more a precautionary thing," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said.

Ravens' Jared Gaither Taken Off Field on Stretcher in New England originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 04 Oct 2009 14:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Week 4 NFL Live Tweet: Brady Quinn, Jason Campbell, More

Michael David Smith — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 12:10:00 EST

Filed under: Patriots, Ravens

The TV cameras caught Browns backup quarterback Brady Quinn yawning on the sideline. He's not the only one bored watching the Browns.

Bucs cornerback Aqib Talib became Jason Campbell's favorite receiver early on Sunday, picking off two passes before Campbell had completed more than one to any of his own receivers.

The Bears' Johnny Knox returned the second half kickoff 102 yards for a touchdown to take 28-21 lead over Lions, leaving Chicago fans asking, "Devin who?"

Those are among the observations in today's NFL live tweet. For more, follow along below or follow me on Twitter @MichaelDavSmith.

Twitter Updates on NFL Week 4

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Previous tweets:

# Bears' Johnny Knox returned the second half kickoff 102 yards for a TD to take 28-21 lead over Lions. Devin who?

# Great interception by Leigh Bodden. He looks much better as a Patriot than he did as a Lion. Funny how that works.

# Ravens LT Jared Gaither stretchered off field, apparent neck injury. Few details but some info here.

# Bucs CB Aqib Talib is Jason Campbell's favorite receiver: Talib has 2 picks, no Redskin has more than 1 catch.

# TV camera catches Brady Quinn yawning on the sideline. He's not the only one bored watching the Browns.

# Bengals DE Robert Geathers scored on a 75-yard fumble return. I didn't know a 280-pounder could run 75 yards that fast.

# Ref gave Patriots a free timeout by calling for measurement on 4th down when it wasn't close. Pats go for it, convert.

# Matthew Stafford is having by far his best game, although the Bears' D is giving him plenty of help.

# Great head-first leap into the end zone for a TD by Jay Cutler. The kind of play that will win over Chicago fans. about an hour ago # Colts rookie RB Donald Brown fights for a 1-yard touchdown. If Indy can add power running to Peyton's passing, wow.

# Browns block chip-shot Bengals FG, game stays 0-0. Testament to fans in Cleveland this lousy team still sells out.

# Bears (and refs) helping Lions with a couple big flags on opening drive, Lions score to go up 7-0.

# Tom Brady had only been sacked once this season. Now he's been sacked twice. Patriots settle for a field goal. Up 3-0.

# Chiefs fumbled the opening kickoff, too. Giants and Patriots both start inside the red zone.

# Baltimore fumbles opening kickoff, Patriots will start inside the Ravens' 20-yard line.

# At Arrowhead Stadium before Chiefs-Giants they played the Jimi Hendrix "Star-Spangled Banner."

# Derrick Mason will play for Ravens today despite an illness. His 110th consecutive regular-season game played.

# Patriots WR Wes Welker will play vs. Ravens, Joey Galloway is inactive.

# Indianapolis to honor visiting Edgerrin James before Seahawks-Colts game. James in 3 games w/Seattle: 17 rush, 43 yards

Week 4 NFL Live Tweet: Brady Quinn, Jason Campbell, More originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 04 Oct 2009 12:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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O.J. Brigance Inspires Baltimore's 'Mighty Men' Through Battle With ALS

David Steele — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Ravens, FanHouse Exclusive

BALTIMORE -- A linebacker who won a Super Bowl ring with the Baltimore Ravens has been called ''the strongest man in the building ... it's not even close'' by head coach John Harbaugh. He isn't talking about Ray Lewis.

O.J. Brigance hasn't worn a Ravens uniform in nine years, or been an active player in seven. The strength Harbaugh refers to has been on display for the last two years as Brigance has battled Lou Gehrig's disease, and as he has done so, he has united and inspired the Ravens in ways nobody else ever has.

Said Spencer Folau, one of Brigance's teammates on the 2000 Ravens team that won Super Bowl XXXV, ''What Ray does on the field, (O.J.) does off the field.''

Brigance, the Ravens' player development director since 2004, hasn't confined his inspiration to his team -- since being diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in May 2007, he has driven himself to raise money and awareness about the disease, and started a foundation, the Brigance Brigade, with his wife, Chanda. That foundation was the beneficiary of a fundraiser Tuesday night at M&T Bank Stadium (video below), which doubled as Brigance's 40th birthday party. Nearly the entire organization, from owner Steve Bisciotti to the players and staff, was expected to attend -- much the same way the whole team showed up at a charity road race for which Brigance was honorary chairman in 2008.

It is the least they could do, they all say, because despite his increasing physical struggles -- listed at 6 feet and 236 pounds in his prime, his body has withered, his speech has become hampered, and he gets around in a motorized wheelchair - Brigance still shows up daily in his office at the Ravens' suburban practice complex, still attends practice, and still performs his job of helping players handle, and capitalize on, reaching the NFL.

The sight of the chair in the hallway leading to the locker room is, for the Ravens and anyone else in the building, the sign that Brigance is back at work. It makes their own physical and personal ailments more manageable.

"He's there every day. He's an inspiration every day,'' said tight end Todd Heap, in his ninth year with the Ravens. "It doesn't take any effort to look down and see he's there every time. It means a lot to the guys in this locker room.

"But you realize the type of character he has, the reasons why he does it: to be an example, not just to people who are going through what he's going through, but to show us, whatever you want to put your mind to is possible.''

Even at full strength, as an undrafted player out of Rice University who began his 12-year pro career in Canada and won both a Super Bowl and a Grey Cup (both in Baltimore, coincidentally; the Stallions won the league title in 1995), Brigance never seemed to acknowledge limits. When he joined the Ravens' front office, he didn't accept them from players, pushing them to get their degrees and be more mature and professional; his department has been recognized for its work by the NFL and the players' union numerous times.

The limits he faces now are much more severe; the worst is that no cure has yet been found for ALS, which can paralyze the muscles and lungs and kills most of its sufferers within five years. The deeply spiritual Brigance, however, insisted on a number of things when he went public with his illness -- first to the Ravens and then to everybody else. One, he said, he would beat the disease. Two, he wanted to be treated the same way he always had been, because he would keep treating others the same.

Three, he would keep working.

"I still come to work every day I can because I determined in my heart a while ago to keep on living,'' Brigance said last week via email, an easier way for him to currently communicate. "There are days that are tougher than others, but by God's grace I am strengthened. For me, it is selfish coming in to work. The Ravens have been a blessing, because they have made whatever modifications necessary to allow me to continue. I have been given an abundant life, and I refuse to let it go until my Creator says so.''

To hear him call himself "selfish" would bring a laugh from the players and others, because to a person, they say that he asks about them and their lives before they get to ask how he's doing. That mindset led to cornerback Samari Rolle winning 2007's annual Ed Block Courage Award, a Baltimore tradition honoring those on each NFL team who overcome adversity. It was not that Rolle, who had returned from a bout with epilepsy that season, did not deserve it; it was that Brigance, who won the vote by the Ravens players, demanded that it be given to Rolle instead. (He accepted one from the organization a year later.)

Brigance's insistence on going to work, meanwhile, meant that he never changed plans to travel to road games. He attended the Ravens' final road game last season, the Cowboys' last game at Texas Stadium, which came a
week after a crushing Baltimore loss to Pittsburgh at home. He spoke to the team beforehand and, after a dramatic victory that all but clinched a playoff berth, Harbaugh credited Brigance first in his postgame comments. (Not long after that, in the Baltimore Sun, he called Brigance "the strongest man in the building.")

Being present at road games was a must from then on, so Brigance traveled to Miami, then to Tennessee, then to Pittsburgh for the AFC title game. After the 13-10 nail-biter over the Titans, Brigance was given the game ball by the choked-up players.

"The Titan game reminded me of my battle against ALS,'' he said. "Many thought it would be impossible for the Ravens to win that game. However, there were a group of Mighty Men who believed 'With God all things are possible.' For most of the game, it was a battle, but in the end, they overcame their circumstances to live on [in the playoffs]. Receiving the game ball was symbolic of not giving in, no matter what the situation looks like on the outside."

From that 2008 Week 16 game in Dallas through a 2009 Week 3 home win over Cleveland, including the playoffs, the Ravens are 7-1.

Harbaugh, who knew Brigance only by reputation when he became head coach last season (and who got into the habit of referring to the players as "mighty men" early on), was swept away by Brigance's presence and the sight of his battles. He has treated him like a de facto assistant coach. "We talk about the spirit of our football team, and O.J. is the core of that spirit right now,'' he said last week. "He's about relationships, even with the rookies who hadn't seen him at 245 pounds of twisted blue steel. But his spirit is 2,000 pounds of twisted blue steel, and our team sees that every single day, and that's what makes us strong."

Yet Brigance might not be drawing quite the outpouring of love and support for his fight with ALS had he not shown those qualities before he became ill. He did not discover his deep faith just when he was diagnosed. "Oh, it's always been there,'' said Mark Clayton, the Ravens' fifth-year wide receiver. "He's always been passionate about his job, about what he did, about helping young men develop into men."

Folau, a teammate for only the one season, recalled that Brigance would not only prod players to keep the cursing to a minimum around him, but had a knack for putting even dire situations in perspective. When Folau was released the year after the Super Bowl, he said, Brigance -- who also had been released -- told him to focus on his then-new family and that if he had faith, the football would take care of itself. Not long afterward, Folau was signed by another team.

"It happened just like that. It was amazing," said Folau, who now does broadcasting and high-school coaching in the Baltimore area. "He's someone you look up to. We were the same age, but he felt like a big brother."

Brigance maintained that role after his diagnosis. Chanda, married to him for 15 years -- among her other attributes, he said, she "has not allowed me to have pity parties" -- partners with him now on his foundation, not only to raise awareness and money for research, but to defray the enormous costs for other patients. The foundation is tied to the Packard Center for ALS Research at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. Late last season, the long-planned reunion of the Colts players from the 1958 "Greatest Game Ever Played" made the Brigance Brigade a beneficiary.

He has heard from a broad cross-section of just about everyone he ever knew, from his childhood throughout his career, since becoming ill. "I guess the most special thing to me is not a particular person, but [that] they all have a memory of how we made a positive impact on each others' lives," he said.

As the birthday fundraiser approached, teams all over the NFL chipped in with auction items, thanks to individuals' ties to Brigance. Helmets, shoes, game tickets and the like came in from team officials who knew and worked with Brigance during his CFL days; they join memorabilia from Ravens, Colts and Orioles, including Cal Ripken.

Said Mike Gathagan, one of the event organizers and the public relations director when Brigance played for the Stallions, "When you mention the name O.J. Brigance, people jump at the chance to help him."

Brigance has never stopped trying to help others right back. Continuing to come to work during the most challenging stretch of his life is only part of it.

O.J. Brigance Inspires Baltimore's 'Mighty Men' Through Battle With ALS originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A 3-0 Start? As Last Season Showed, That Means Very Little

Dave Goldberg — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EST

Filed under: Broncos, Colts, Jets, Giants, Ravens, Saints, Vikings, NFL Analysis

The NFL loves parity. There's just not much of it so far this season.

There are currently seven unbeaten teams and seven winless ones -- including Carolina, 0-3 after losing Monday night's game in the Jerry Jones Pleasure Dome. There also were seven and seven in 2002. The most 3-0 teams to start a season? Eight in 1998, when the NFL had 30 franchises.

Still, even for those off to perfect starts, nothing is guaranteed.

Historically, about three-quarters of 3-0 teams make the playoffs. But last season, five teams won their first three games and only two, the Titans and Giants, made it. Dallas finished 9-7, Denver 8-8 and Buffalo 7-9.

It should get back to a more normal percentage this year.

Of the 3-0 teams, only the Jets and Broncos are a surprise -- Denver seemed in turmoil entering the season, and New York's expectations were the limited ones you expect with a rookie quarterback. The Ravens, Giants, Vikings and Colts were all considered at least contenders -- if not favorites -- in their divisions, and the Saints needed only to find a semblance of a defense to have a playoff season. .

One other note: The cliche about defense winning championships seems to be true. Although early stats often mean little because schedules vary, unbeaten teams are 1-2-3-4 in yards allowed: Broncos, Giants, Jets and Vikings in that order. And the Ravens' D may be better than all of them.

A look at the 3-0 teams:

o. BALTIMORE: Always an intimidating defense, even with Rex Ryan having gone to the Jets and taken Bart Scott and Jim Leonhard with him.

But look at the offense, a problem since the Ravens' first season in Baltimore 14 years ago. Joe Flacco might be the best second-year QB since Peyton Manning in 1999, and there are three premier running backs, including fullback Le'Ron McClain. A healthy Ray Rice has 192 yards rushing, and the competition has rejuvenated Willis McGahee, who has 190 yards and is averaging 5.9 per carry, a full two yards more than last season. McGahee also leads the league with six touchdowns, five on the ground.

PROGNOSIS: A game ahead of the Bengals and two over the Steelers, who remain the primary competition in the AFC North. It will be hard for the Ravens to miss the postseason.

o. NEW YORK GIANTS: The defense, without four injured starters, returned Sunday in Tampa, holding the Bucs to one first down and just 35 offensive yards in the first 50 minutes. A few garbage yards late gave Tampa Bay 86 total for the game. Problems running and stopping the run in Dallas? Not against the admittedly awful Bucs -- 226 yards rushing for New York, compared to 28 allowed.

Steve Smith and Mario Manningham (with injured rookie Hakeem Nicks in the wings) are answering the questions at wide receiver. Smith's 23 catches are second in the NFL.

PROGNOSIS: With two division wins already, and Tampa the beginning of the softest part of the schedule -- Kansas City and Oakland are next -- the Giants are in good shape in a division with at least two other tough teams, most notably Philadelphia.

o. MINNESOTA: If we didn't know why the Vikings were so anxious to have Brett Favre, we know now. Game manager? Does anyone think Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels could have executed the last-minute drive that beat the 49ers? That winning 32-yard TD pass to Greg Lewis was drilled almost 50 yards on a line -- 7-8 yards behind the line of scrimmage to the back line of the end zone. And kudos to Lewis for the catch -- given Tom Brady's lack of rapport with Joey Galloway and Sam Aiken, it might have been a rare mistake by Bill Belichick to let him go from New England.

The Favre-Lewis play overshadowed the work of Percy Harvin, whose 101-yard kickoff return was another highlight. Given the strength of the defense, adding another playmaker to Adrian Peterson makes Minnesota scary.

PROGNOSIS: The Vikings are simply better right now than Chicago and Green Bay, the competition in NFC North. But that can change if Favre, who will turn 40 on Oct. 10, goes down -- he's acknowledged that he might be good for only 10-11 games.

o. INDIANAPOLIS: Ho hum. So Manning lost Marvin Harrison and (temporarily) Anthony Gonzalez. Enter Austin Collie, Donald Brown and Pierre Garcon (and please, hold the increasingly trite French jokes -- he was born in Carmel, N.Y.and grew up in Florida.) The defense still gives up a lot of yards, but that Miami game is classic Colts -- a win with 14:53 time of possession

"He knew what plays to call at the right time and we couldn't stop him," Arizona's Darnell Dockett said after Manning torched the Cardinals 34-10 Sunday night.

We've heard that one before.

PROGNOSIS: As always, the Colts will finish 12-4 or better. With a questionable defense (as always), they're on their own in the playoffs.

o. NEW ORLEANS: Drew Brees threw nine TD passes in two games, then none in Buffalo. But the game against the Bills demonstrated more about the Saints' playoff potential than wins over Detroit and a hobbled Philly team. That's because Pierre Thomas' running, 14 carries for 126 yards and two TDs, carried them.

The defense also held up well, although the Bills are hardly the NFL's most potent offense. But it was still the kind of showing the Saints needed -- a nice win in outdoor weather against a physical opponent.

PROGNOSIS: Too many offensive weapons not to win the NFC South, where if Carolina's slide continues, Atlanta is the only other contender. The next two games will tell a lot: the Jets, then the Giants after a bye. Both are at home, which should help a lot.

o. NEW YORK JETS. For all the hype about Mark Sanchez, the first rookie quarterback to start 3-0 since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970, the Jets are doing it with defense. They pressed a still rusty Tom Brady in Week 2. And on Sunday, they did to Kerry Collins what more teams should do -- pressured him endlessly, even at the end of a 24-17 win, when most teams would play soft on defense. Looking as immobile as ever, Collins missed on his last 13 passes.

If the Jets make the playoffs, Rex Ryan's aggressive defenses will be the reason. Sanchez has been solid so far, but all rookies make mistakes and the receiving corps is just ordinary.

PROGNOSIS: The Jets just might do what they might have done last season before Favre got hurt and faded -- win the AFC East. Their win over New England will help, although the Patriots figure to get better as Brady returns to form. But every win helps -- if there's no division title, there still could be a wild-card spot.

o. DENVER: Clearly the biggest surprise among this group. A 32-year-old coach, Josh McDaniels, arrives in town, gets into a tiff with his franchise QB and finally trades him. Then his franchise receiver plays ultra diva and is suspended for two exhibition games. The defense, one of the NFL's worst last season, is expected to remain vulnerable, and the new QB seems to be basically a placeholder.

So after three games, the defense, under deposed San Francisco coach Mike Nolan, has allowed just one touchdown and three field goals, best in the league and best in team history. It leads with league with only 214 yards allowed and has eight takeaways and a plus-six turnover differential.

PROGNOSIS: The Broncos won with a lucky bounce in Cincinnati and beat Cleveland and Oakland, two of the league's worst. They could be 3-3 after Dallas, New England and San Diego. If they come out of that with even one win -- especially if it's the Chargers -- they might be a legit contender in the AFC West.

COACHING CHANGES?

There will be NONE in the immediate future, although to monitor Twitter, you'd think everyone with a losing record is in danger. And there's a huge media circus going on at Redskins Park.

But nothing is likely to happen there despite an ugly Week 2 win over St. Louis followed by Sunday's 19-14 loss in Detroit that ended the Lions' 19-game winless streak..

Two people who have spoken directly with Daniel Snyder confirm he has no plans to fire Jim Zorn right now, at least in part because there's no replacement available.

Next year? Bill Cowher seems less likely a candidate than Mike Shanahan. But Cowher, Shanahan and everyone else out there know, as Tony Dungy pointed out on NBC Sunday night, that Snyder is running the team like a fantasy franchise. So whoever gets the job will want a new GM to replace Vinny Cerrato, who mostly does Snyder's bidding.

Nor is Randy Lerner going to fire Eric Mangini in Cleveland. Maybe Lerner shouldn't have hired him, but three games is hardly a fair sample.

As for Bucs fans ranting about Raheem Morris ...

Give the guy a chance. He had to tear down to rebuild the aging team he inherited from Jon Gruden and Bruce Allen. Yes, they were pathetic against the Giants on Sunday and they might be better off trying Josh Johnson at QB for Byron Leftwich. But even that's a question -- the mini-drive of about 50 yards that Johnson engineered came with the game way out of hand and New York backups in the game playing a soft defense.

A 3-0 Start? As Last Season Showed, That Means Very Little originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Brady Quinn Pulled at QB for Browns

Bruce Ciskie — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 14:55:00 EST

Filed under: Chargers, Ravens, AFC North, NFL Quarterbacks

Trailing 20-0 at halftime, and seeing that his offense had done virtually nothing productive, Cleveland Browns coach Eric Mangini decided he'd had enough.

Quarterback Brady Quinn, who has struggled mightily over the season's first two weeks, was pulled from Sunday's 34-3 loss to Baltimore in favor of Derek Anderson. The two staged a battle throughout training camp for the starting job, which was eventually won by Quinn.

More Coverage: Browns-Ravens Recap | Full Scoreboard

Quinn has not been effective throwing the ball downfield, and he didn't get off to a good start Sunday. He threw an interception on the Browns' first drive, and threw for just 34 yards in the first half.

Anderson came on to start the third quarter for Cleveland, and that didn't do work out better. Flushed out of the pocket, he threw a pass into coverage along the sideline, and it was intercepted. It was one of those plays where Anderson needed to throw the ball away, instead of trying to make a play -- and the first of three Anderson interceptions on the day. He finished 11 of 19.

"Nothing ever comes easy here in Cleveland," said linebacker D'Qwell Jackson. "I've learned that the last few years. This is as low as we can get right now. We're 0-3 and we can't be any worse than that."

Looks like it's going to be a long season in Cleveland, one wrought with quarterback questions.

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BALTIMORE - SEPTEMBER 27: Ray Rice #27 of the Baltimore Ravens runs the ball into the endzone for his first career touchdown against the Cleveland Browns at M&T Bank Stadium on September 27, 2009 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens defeated the Browns 34-3. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ray Rice

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BALTIMORE - SEPTEMBER 27: Dawan Landry #26 of the Baltimore Ravens laterals the ball after an interception against the Cleveland Browns at M&T Bank Stadium on September 27, 2009 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens defeated the Browns 34-3. The lay was called back because of a penalty but the Ravens kept the ball. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Dawan Landry

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BALTIMORE - SEPTEMBER 27: Dawan Landry #26 of the Baltimore Ravens runs the ball after an interception against the Cleveland Browns at M&T Bank Stadium on September 27, 2009 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens defeated the Browns 34-3. The lay was called back because of a penalty but the Ravens kept the ball. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Dawan Landry

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BALTIMORE - SEPTEMBER 27: Head coach John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens speaks to the referree during the game against the Cleveland Browns at M&T Bank Stadium on September 27, 2009 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens defeated the Browns 34-3. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** John Harbaugh

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BALTIMORE - SEPTEMBER 27: Ray Rice #27 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates his first career touchdown against the Cleveland Browns at M&T Bank Stadium on September 27, 2009 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens defeated the Browns 34-3. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ray Rice

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BALTIMORE - SEPTEMBER 27: Ed Reed #20 of the Baltimore Ravens comes off the field after an interception against the Cleveland Browns at M&T Bank Stadium on September 27, 2009 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens defeated the Browns 34-3. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ed Reed

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BALTIMORE - SEPTEMBER 27: Antwan Barnes #50 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates a play against the Cleveland Browns at M&T Bank Stadium on September 27, 2009 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens defeated the Browns 34-3. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Antwan Barnes

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BALTIMORE - SEPTEMBER 27: Todd Heap #86 of the Baltimore Ravens runs the ball against the Cleveland Browns at M&T Bank Stadium on September 27, 2009 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens defeated the Browns 34-3. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Todd Heap

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Brady Quinn Pulled at QB for Browns originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 27 Sep 2009 14:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Suicide Pool Solution: Week 3

Brett Pollakoff — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 13:45:00 EST

Filed under: Cowboys, Giants, Packers, Panthers, Ravens, Texans, NFL Gambling

Each week, FanHouse takes a deeper look at the obvious -- and not so obvious -- options for your NFL suicide pool. Standard rules apply: pick one team to win straight up (no point spreads), and each team may only be used once.

If you were fortunate enough to stay away from the Packers and Titans last week, the good news is that you're still alive. The bad news is that you were probably forced to suffer through a shaky first half with the Vikings, or an entire game of misery while rooting in the Redskins.

Thankfully, things look to be a lot easier in Week 3.

With teams like the Ravens, Giants, and Packers all playing against the league's bottom feeders, most should be able to get by unscathed this week. But which of these seemingly lopsided matchups will give you the best chance to win in the weeks to come? Let's take a closer look.

The Ravens will undoubtedly be the majority play this week, and it's tough to find a reason not to take them. After two games, Baltimore has looked like one of the top teams in the league, showing flashes of dominance on both sides of the ball. They're hosting a Cleveland Browns team that has managed just one offensive touchdown over the first two games of the season, and it came two weeks ago.

The Browns managed just six points during their 27-6 shellacking in Denver, while allowing their quarterback to get sacked four times in the second half by the same player -- the Broncos' Elvis Dumervil. Ever heard of the word adjustment, Mr. Mangenius?

When you combine Baltimore's more complete attack with Cleveland's ineptitude, the Ravens are as close as you get to a sure thing in these contests.

But does that mean you take them this week?

If you're just into playing this game week-to-week, then yes, going with Baltimore should take you safely into Week 4. But if you're in it for the long haul, you need to look at the other reasonable options -- along with the rest of the Ravens' schedule -- before making that all-important selection.

The Giants are in Tampa Bay, and the Packers are in St. Louis, and both road favorites should take care of business against two of the worst teams in the league. A good rule to follow in these things, however, is to stay away from picking road teams unless it's absolutely necessary. Let's face it, if a huge underdog is going to rise up and take down a heavy favorite, it's more likely to happen at home than on the road.

The Rams were feisty in Washington last week, and the Bucs showed some fight in Buffalo, after falling behind 17-0 early. With much stronger options on the board, going with a road team this week is an unnecessary risk, with the only upside being the fact that you would get to save the Ravens to use down the road.

But a quick look at Baltimore's schedule shows that they really don't have any easy games at home until Week 14, when they'll host the Detroit Lions. And who knows if you'll even still be around by then, if you choose to go with road favorites when there's an easy pick on the board like the Ravens?

A couple of other options worth mentioning if you're hell-bent on not taking Baltimore include the Cowboys hosting the Panthers, and the Texans hosting the Jaguars.

Jake Delhomme only threw one pick last week -- you know, as opposed to the nine he threw in his previous two games -- and Carolina remained a single score away from Atlanta for most of the game. The Panthers might be slowly righting the ship.

Meanwhile, the Cowboys lead the league in team rushing, but they also gave up 33 points and over 300 yards passing in their loss to the Giants, without getting even a single sack on Eli Manning.

Dallas might win, but all I'm saying is, there are red flags if you're considering this one.

Houston looked great in Tennessee last week, winning a physical shootout and sending the Titans to an 0-2 start. They host a Jaguars team that kept it close against the Colts in Week 1, before they got crushed by the Cardinals in Week 2.

If you must shy away from the Ravens, the Texans appear to be a solid choice. Jacksonville had no answer for Kurt Warner's passing attack. so just imagine what Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson are going to be able to do. And the last time these two teams met in Houston (in December of last year), the Texans won by double digits. And if you need one more stat to convince you, chew on this: Houston is 7-2 when wearing their all red uniforms, which they'll be doing this Sunday.

So, yeah. After all of this analysis, I'm afraid that the Ravens are probably the best selection in Week 3. But hey, when you're in the early stages of what you hope will be a season-long contest, it never hurts to take a closer look at all of your available options.

Good luck this week.

Suicide Pool Solution: Week 3 originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sat, 26 Sep 2009 13:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Matt Schaub, Texans Working on Trust

Thomas George — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 21:45:00 EST

Filed under: Broncos, Jets, Ravens, Texans, NFL Notebook

NASHVILLE -- Matt Schaub displayed something for one of his teammates Sunday that he has been seeking throughout his time with the Houston Texans. It's not something that comes easily in the NFL, but Schaub concluded he would give it in order to receive it -- trust.

After Texans safety Eugene Wilson picked off Kerry Collins and returned the ball 13 yards to the Tennessee 29, Schaub threw a pass deep left to third-year receiver Jacoby Jones. Jones, wide open, dropped it. It was early in the second quarter. Houston trailed 21-14.

"Jacoby is a guy who's got swagger, and you want him to keep that, because he plays his best with it,'' Schaub explained. "He had that look after he dropped it; he was getting down on himself. You can't shy away from a player you believe in. I went right back to him.''

Next play -- wham! A 29-yard touchdown pass to Jones. A rifle pass, an assertive catch. A tie game.

And later,with the game tied at 31-31 in the fourth quarter, Schaub found Jones for a 44-yard connection to the Titans 24 that set up Kris Brown's winning field goal. Houston 34, Tennessee 31.

Schaub kept coming back to the player he believed in, and it paid off. He wants that same level of trust from the franchise.

It is not easy for the Texans -- or their fans -- to give that. Given the bust by No. 1 pick David Carr seven years ago, and the futility and frustration that followed, the Texans have had their share of quarterback quandaries. Schaub arrived in 2007 with another high price tag: two second-round Texans draft picks and a swap of first-round draft spots in '07 with the Atlanta Falcons.

Schaub started 2-0 in his first season and looked like Houston's answer.

But injuries and blotchy play, a couple of 8-8 seasons and a scary-bad outing in the Texans' Week 1 loss to the Jets left Schaub wondering if the Texans would keep coming back to him, if he would continue to be a player they believe in.

On Sunday, Schaub embraced the chance he was given.

He was throwing deep on third-and-short. He was plunging without fear on fourth-down conversions. He completed passes of 21 or more yards to four different receivers. Three of his career-best four touchdown passes went to wide receivers, including a 72-yarder to Andre Johnson.

He crouched low and tight under center, almost Doug Flutie-like for his towering 6-foot-5, 239-pound frame, and he unleashed himself and his arm in a hold-nothing-back manner that was refreshing for all who care about the Texans. Schaub is 28 -- young enough to keep rising, yet old enough to expect rapid production.

"You can't play against the Titans defense hoping a play can work,'' Schaub said. "You'll wind up looking back and wondering what could have happened if you had done this or that. I didn't want to have to dwell on that no more than dwell on what happened against the Jets.

"I came to this franchise when it was sort of at a crossroads. There were a lot of first- and second-year players here and I was young, too. I think we're maturing as a group, as a team. I realize now is the time.''

What the Texans set loose in Schaub on Sunday, they cannot reel in during future weeks. What Schaub set free in his mind, in his own game, he must find consistently. Both must move forward together, giving this quarterback every chance to win games with his big arm and his big receivers.

And the Texans keep coming back to Schaub, the guy they believe in.

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In this Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009, photo, Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner calls to his teammates at the line of scrimmage during an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Jacksonville, Fla. Warner tied Jake Plummer's franchise record by opening the game with 15 consecutive completions. By completing 92.3 percent of his passes, he broke the previous NFL record set by Vinny Testaverde in 1993. (AP Photo/Phil Coale)

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MIAMI - SEPTEMBER 21: Sand castles were erected outside the stadium before the Indianapolis Colts take on the Miami Dolphins at Land Shark Stadium on September 21, 2009 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images)

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MIAMI - SEPTEMBER 21: A veiw from outside the stadium before the Indianapolis Colts take on the Miami Dolphins at Land Shark Stadium on September 21, 2009 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images)

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MIAMI - SEPTEMBER 21: Fans make their way around the Fan Zone before the Indianapolis Colts take on the Miami Dolphins at Land Shark Stadium on September 21, 2009 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images)

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MIAMI - SEPTEMBER 21: Shannon McPherson,(L) and her son Devin, 7, stand in front of sand castles that were erected outside the stadium before the Indianapolis Colts take on the Miami Dolphins at Land Shark Stadium on September 21, 2009 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Shannon McPherson;Devin McPherson

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In this Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009, photo, New England Patriots' Stephen Gostkowski (3) kicks a field goal as Chris Hanson holds during the second quarter of an NFL football game against the New York Jets in East Rutherford, N.J. On offense, the Patriots settled for three field goals in the first half when drives stalled. On special teams, they allowed a long kickoff return to start the second half. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

In this Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009, photo, Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Nate Hughes (16) misses a pass in the second half of an NFL football game in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jaguars have released Hughes and tight Greg Estandia a day after the players made mistakes in a 31-17 loss to Arizona. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Philadelphia Eagles' Kevin Kolb (4) is shown during an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009. Kolb will make his second straight start for the Philadelphia Eagles if Donovan McNabb can't play against Kansas City. Coach Andy Reid isn't sure whether Jeff Garcia or Michael Vick would be the backup quarterback in that scenario. Vick is eligible to play for the first time after serving a two-game suspension as the final league penalty for his role in running a dogfighting ring. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

In this Aug. 29, 2009, photo, Cleveland Browns coach Eric Mangini watches before a preseason NFL football game between the Browns and the Tennessee Titans at Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland. Two games into Mangini's tenure, the offense has scored only one touchdown. The defense can't tackle and suffered its second straight second-half meltdown on Sunday in Denver. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

NOLAN ROLLING: Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen made it clear that he selected Josh McDaniels as his head coach with an understanding that Mike Nolan was going to be the Broncos defensive coordinator. Bowlen believed in Nolan -- his experience, his containment-concepts of defense.

Two games into the 2009 season, Nolan is rewarding that confidence.

He has pieced together a hodge-podge mix of defensive parts that helped the Broncos hold Cincinnati to seven points and Cleveland to six.

Nolan makes sure his defensive players know exactly what they are supposed to do. He emphasizes that the little things they do take away big things for an offense. "No big plays allowed" is Nolan's mantra.

This Broncos travel to Oakland next, and that is a test Denver's defense should pass. We will know plenty more about Nolan's group in the following weeks when Dallas and New England bring their big-play brands of offense to Denver.

FLACCO IS BACK FOR MORE: NFL general managers are impressed with Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco's 2-0 start, one year after helping the Ravens reach the AFC championship game as a rookie.

Here's analysis from one: "When you get a quarterback who can get the ball downfield, you've got a chance. Flacco can throw it. He's big and he's a better runner than people give him credit for. I saw some of our guys chase him when we played him that I thought should have caught him and he ran away from them.

"The Ravens are turning their team into something different. It used to be protect the defense with the offense. Now the offense is trying to score, first and foremost, and that is putting more pressure on that defense. You show me a No. 1 defense, and I'll show you most of the time that team has a near-No. 1 run offense or big advantage in possession time. Now with the Ravens doing more with that offense, that Ravens defense is going to allow more points because it is not as rested and sometimes may be put in some bad spots. But for the long haul, the Ravens can go further now because they have a quarterback and an offense that can win games late, especially playoff games, where that shows up most.''

REVIS PROVES HIS WORTH: New England receiver Randy Moss said that the Jets' Darrelle Revis is not a shutdown corner -- after Revis shut down Moss in New York's Week 2 win.

One of the reasons the Jets defense is off to a fast start is because of the shutdown play of Revis. There is no way a defense can blitz like the Jets do unless their corners can play press coverage and stick. Revis does that. He is a superior cornerback.

One NFL coach who saw the Jets upset the Patriots surmised: "Revis outplayed Moss. Moss is used to making plays and just being better than his coverage. Revis was up to the task. Moss has a penchant for being a little disinterested and lazy at times. Revis took total advantage of that.''

FREE KICKS: Though the Texans won with Schaub's arm, they kept the Titans defense honest with 29 rushes for 63 yards. The number of attempts kept the Titans creeping forward, so that the Texans could hammer them over the top. The Patriots must adopt a similar strategy with their attack. Tom Brady threw 47 passes Sunday, compared to just 20 New England runs. In the Patriots' opener, the ratio was 53 passes to 23 runs. The Patriots have to make the rushing attack a focal point, so that Brady can make the passing game the difference.

o. A few hours after Mario Manningham was drafted in the third round in the 2008 NFL draft, I spoke with him by telephone, reaching him at his Warren, Ohio, home. Thirteen receivers had been drafted ahead of him -- he was hot. He was determined to prove everyone wrong about his talent and his character. In Sunday's games, he led all NFL receivers with 150 yards and was a key factor in his team's victory at Dallas. The Giants coaches love his quickness. They remind him he is better than most of the cornerbacks and coverage he faces, something he knows. If he was two inches taller than his 5-foot-11 frame, he would be a prototype receiver. Just as he is, though, might be a huge Giants answer at receiver.

o. Consider that Bengals defensive tackle Antwan Odom made three sacks in 2008 -- he had five in Cincinnati's victory at Green Bay. At 6-foot-5, 280 pounds with a motor and strength that the Packers' depleted offensive line could not handle, Odom pulled a rare feat for a defensive tackle. He currently leads the league with seven sacks. Think the Titans would love to have him back, let alone Albert Haynesworth? Tennessee failed to gain a sack against the Texans.

Matt Schaub, Texans Working on Trust originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 21 Sep 2009 21:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ray Lewis Saves Baltimore With 'One of The Greatest Plays' of His Career

Nancy Gay — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 22:50:00 EST

Filed under: Chargers, Ravens, NFL Quarterbacks

SAN DIEGO -- Ray Lewis waited 59 1/2 minutes Sunday to make a spectacular play he had created in his mind's eye, a scene crafted through hours of film study dissecting the Chargers' prolific offense. But the play was no fluke: That same game film all but promised the Ravens linebacker that San Diego would give the ball to spark-plug running back Darren Sproles in a short-yardage situation.

And with the ballgame on the line.

With 37 seconds remaining and Baltimore trying to hold off a Chargers' game-winning scoring threat, there it was -- quarterback Philip Rivers, on 4th-and-2 at the Ravens' 15-yard line, handing off to Sproles on a counter-draw play.

Lewis had envisioned shooting the gap untouched and completing the body-slamming tackle for a loss he knew was possible from watching all that video. And when he made that dream play happen to secure a Ravens victory at Qualcomm Stadium, Lewis called it one of his all-time bests.

"That was probably one of the greatest plays of my career, because of my team -- because of what we did as a team," said the six-time All-Pro linebacker, whose repertoire of game-breaking stops could fill a DVD collectors' series.

How great was it?

Said Ravens coach John Harbaugh after his team's 31-26 win: "He made the greatest football play I've ever seen. Ray Lewis made the last play of the football game to win a football game when you have to."

Five times on Sunday, the Chargers (1-1) reached the red zone against the NFL's third-ranked defense. Five times, the Ravens (2-0) kept them from scoring a touchdown, limiting San Diego to four Nick Kaeding field goals.

On the last try, Lewis blasted through a center-guard gap -- totally unblocked -- and leveled Sproles for a 5-yard loss.

"It's just amazing -- you go from film study, and nothing changes. They stayed to their form. And early in the game, that same play ... he just kept bouncing, just bouncing outside. But you know, when the game was on the line, as soon as Philip dropped down, I shot [the gap]," an adrenaline-pumped Lewis recalled minutes later. "And [Sproles] was there. He was there."

That tackle did not come off one of the many blitzes the Ravens had used all day to harass Rivers, which he shrugged off, for the most part, to pass for a career-high 436 yards. Rivers turned in the fourth-most productive passing day in Chargers' history, tying him with Dan Fouts.

"No, it wasn't a called blitz at all. I just read the play, and when I read it, it's either I make it, or they make it. Bottom line," Lewis recalled. "And in that situation, I tell my team, 'I'm never gonna ask you to do nothing that I won't do myself.' And that is to take a risk.

"So I took a risk. And I shot it ... game's on the line -- shoot it. Here we go."

And if you're a Chargers fan, you're probably asking: Norv Turner, why would you take the ball out of the hands of your hottest player, Rivers, on such a crucial 4th-down play? Why go with a running play, one that may have worked in the fourth quarter in Week 1 against Oakland, but hadn't gone far in Week 2 against the Ravens' fortified front seven?

"It didn't look like a 4th-and-2 to me," the Chargers coach explained. "I thought it looked more like 4th-and-1 to me. We threw the ball and they were very soft on the third-down play.

"If you look at the play, we got great movement on the outside. Ray made a great play."

The injury-ravaged Chargers came into this key AFC matchup without two of their biggest stars on offense and defense -- running back LaDainian Tomlinson was inactive (sprained ankle), and the team lost nose tackle Jamal Williams for the season because of a triceps injury.

Two starting offensive linemen, center Nick Hardwick (ankle) and right guard Louis Vazquez (knee) also were out after sustaining injuries in a Week 1 victory over the Raiders in Oakland.

So while San Diego was limited on the ground all day, rushing for only 53 yards, Rivers looked to Sproles through the air, connecting with him seven times for 124 yards. That included an 81-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter, in which Rivers dumped a screen to Sproles to defeat a Baltimore blitz. Rivers also completed six passes to wide receiver Vincent Jackson for 141 yards, including a 35-yard scoring catch.

The Chargers put up 474 total yards against the Ravens' aggressive defenders. But once San Diego ventured inside Baltimore's 20-yard line, trouble followed.

Three times, Rivers and his crew were penalized for delay of game in the red zone, including a crushing mistake on 1st-and-inches at the Ravens' goal line with 19 seconds remaining before halftime. Pushed back five yards, Rivers threw two incomplete passes. Turner then called for Kaeding on third down, and he nailed a 23-yard field goal eight seconds before the break, cutting Baltimore's lead to 21-16.

The choice to go for a field goal on third down rather than try for seven points didn't bother Rivers at all.

"I wasn't really surprised. They blitzed us every play before that," said Rivers, who completed 25 of 45 passes but also threw two interceptions. "If something happened and I don't get to throw it away, or I throw it away and they call intentional grounding ... They were bringing everybody so there is going to be someone unblocked, and there is no way we could have blocked them all.

"We had to make sure we got some points there."

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SAN FRANCISCO - SEPTEMBER 20: Cornerback Allen Rossum #20 of the San Francisco 49ers tries to break a tackle by cornerback Kelly Jennings #21 and linebacker David Hawthorne #57 of the Seattle Seahawks in the first quarter action during the home opener at Candlestick Park on September 20, 2009 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by David Paul Morris/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Allen Rossum;Kelly Jennings;David Hawthorne

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ARLINGTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 20: Fans wait for a game between the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys at Cowboys Stadium on September 20, 2009 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

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ARLINGTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 20: An American flag on the field before a game between the New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys at Cowboys Stadium on September 20, 2009 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

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ARLINGTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 20: Running back Felix Jones #28 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates his touchown with Leonard Davis #70 in front of Corey Webster #23 of the New York Giants at Cowboys Stadium on September 20, 2009 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Felix Jones;Corey Webster;Leonard Davis

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ARLINGTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 20: Running back Felix Jones #28 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates his touchown in front of Corey Webster #23 of the New York Giants at Cowboys Stadium on September 20, 2009 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Felix Jones;Corey Webster

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NBA basketball player LeBron James prepares to pass as he plays catch with friends on the field following an NFL football game between the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sharon Ellman)

NBA basketball player LeBron James plays catch with friends on the field following the NFL football game between the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (9) walks off the field following their NFL football game against the New York Giants, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009, in Arlington, Texas. The Giants won 33-31. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

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ARLINGTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 20: Running back Brandon Jacobs #27 of the New York Giants runs the ball against the Dallas Cowboys at Cowboys Stadium on September 20, 2009 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Brandon Jacobs

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ARLINGTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 20: Running back Marion Barber #24 of the Dallas Cowboys runs the ball past Bruce Johnson #25 of the New York Giants at Cowboys Stadium on September 20, 2009 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Marion Barber;Bruce Johnson

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Ray Lewis Saves Baltimore With 'One of The Greatest Plays' of His Career originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 20 Sep 2009 22:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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