Colts Football

John Turvik asked:


Another victim has fallen once again to the Patriots after Jacksonville loses 31-20 in Foxboro. Tom Brady was almost perfect in this game going 26-of-28 for 262 yards and 3 touchdowns. He started off the game going 16 for 16, a single game postseason record, to break Phil Simms record for completion percentage in a game. Brady stayed very calm throughout the game and calmly took what the soft Jacksonville cover game him. The Jaguars where unable to pressure Brady into any interceptions as they pretty much stayed with their base front four rushing him in passing situations.

Jacksonville was so worried about giving up the big play to Randy Moss that they kept their safeties deep all game leaving the short routes wide open for Brady to hit eight different receivers and have an almost perfect passing percentage. Jack Del Rio never adjusted his defense all game long and ended up paying the price for it. Even though Jacksonville was in this game throughout, you never got the sense that they could get a lead on the Patriots.

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New England played error free football with no interceptions, no fumbles and winning the time of possession. Jacksonville on the other hand ended up with two turnovers both coming from David Garrard whom threw one and fumbled one. The only way Jacksonville was winning this game was if they two played error free and found a way to use their running game to keep New England off the field.

The league’s second-most productive duo during the regular season combined for just 66 yards. It ended up being the Patriots whom dominated the running game as Laurence Maroney rushed for 122 yards, including a 1 yard touchdown. The Patriots game played out in almost identical fashion as the Green Bay- Seattle game that played before. Green Bay dominated the running game as well as the time of possession while the Seahawks only got 20 yards on the ground from their star running back. In both games the underdog team forgot the run very early in the game which ended up being the downfall of them. Once the run was left behind it gave the opposing defenses the advantage by allowing them to drop more people into coverage.

Norv Tuner will have to learn from the mistakes that Jacksonville made if he’s going to have a shot next weekend. LaDanian Tomlinson and quarterback Phillip Rivers where both injured during Sunday’s contest against the Indianapolis Colts. It will be very interesting to see how Norv Turner game plans for the Patriots if these two starts cant’s compete. The only way San Diego will have a chance against the Patriots is if they can stick to the running game throughout the contest. New England going into the Jacksonville game was allowing 4.4 yards on the ground and most of those yards where right up the gut of New England’s line.

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The Patriots failed to cover the -13.5 point spread against the Jags, but the total did just go over 49 by posting a combined total of 51. New England has had trouble covering these big spreads especially in the second half of the season. This should be a big heads-up for handicappers when it comes time for their bout against the San Diego Chargers. Their’s plenty of football left to be played and it will be a test for the Patriots next week as they host the Chargers. Lets see if Tom Brady and the New England Patriots can continue to play error free football and stay down the path to a perfect season.

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BUDDY

Morgan Dunn asked:


 

Historically, the tight end position has not featured very many players who have helped sell NFL tickets, but in more recent years the position has evolved. There are now a number of tight ends who post impressive receiving numbers year in and year out. Here I rank the tight ends who I think will turn in the five best fantasy performances this season.

1. Antonio Gates, San Diego: This collegiate basketball player turned NFL star is hands down the best tight end in the league. His combination of speed, size, hands and the ability to use his body make him basically uncoverable. Gates is quarterback Philip Rivers’ favorite target and consistently puts up incredible numbers for a tight end. He’s one of the many players on the Chargers whose playmaking ability help sell NFL tickets in San Diego.

2. Jason Witten, Dallas: Witten is Tony Romo’s number two option behind Terrell Owens. Witten is big, strong and has great hands. In Dallas’ pass-happy offense, Witten gets plenty of balls thrown his way. He’ll consistently put up top-tier tight end numbers for years to come.
3. Dallas Clark, Indianapolis: Peyton Manning and the Colts love to run two-tight end sets and Clark is one of Manning’s favorite targets. If Marvin Harrison has trouble staying healthy again, the team is going to depend heavily on Clark. He had a breakout season in 2007 and should only improve in 2008.

4. Kellen Winslow, Cleveland: We all know he’s “a soldier,” but he’s also the son of one of the greatest tight ends in the history of the game, Kellen Winslow Sr. Winslow has the talent to be the best tight end in the league and has put together some really good seasons thus far. His athleticism and speed are off the charts for a player of his size and strength, making him a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses.

5. Tony Gonzalez, Kansas City: This receiving tight end trend is so new that there was a time in Gonzo’s career that he was pretty much the only consistent receiving threat in the NFL other than Shannon Sharpe. He’s not the first guy to do it, but he’s seemed to help usher in its acceptance more than any other player. Tony is not what he used to be, but he’s still a top five fantasy tight end. Quarterback Brodie Croyle should use him a lot.

Some up and coming tight ends I’d also keep an eye on are Vernon Davis and Heath Miller. Never has the NFL had so many tight ends so skilled in the passing game. These guys serve as an extra receiver and make the game more exciting, only increasing sales in NFL tickets.



SAM

Karol Lucan asked:


THURSDAY, SEPT. 6

New Orleans at Indianapolis: The Saints have covered four of their last five meetings with the Colts but Indianapolis has been strong out of the gate, notching a 6-1-1 mark against the spread (ATS) in its last eight season openers.

SUNDAY, SEPT. 9

Denver at Buffalo: The Broncos have been a solid road favorite over the past four seasons, notching an 11-7-1 mark ATS. Buffalo is 7-1 ATS at home preceding back-to-back road games. The Bills head to Pittsburgh and New England after hosting Denver.

Pittsburgh at Cleveland: The Steelers have covered seven straight games against the Browns, including four in a row in Cleveland. The Browns are 2-9 as division underdogs of seven points or less. The line opened with Pittsburgh favored by a field goal.

Philadelphia at Green Bay: The Eagles have covered seven of their last eight meetings with the Packers, including three straight in Green Bay. The Packers are 1-7 as a home underdog the last four years, including 0-5 last season, and are 1-7 ATS their last eight home games against non-conference foes.

Kansas City at Houston: Houston is 1-5 ATS at home against a non-division opponent in September but Kansas City is a pathetic 1-10 ATS as a non-conference road favorite. The Chiefs opened as a 1-point underdog but the line could switch so watch this one closely.

Tennessee at Jacksonville: Jacksonville has covered eight consecutive openers. Forget about the money line; the straight up (SU) winner also is 22-2 ATS in the Tennessee-Jacksonville series.

Atlanta at Minnesota: The Falcons are 4-1 ATS their last five games versus the Vikings, including 3-1 their last four trips to Minnesota. Atlanta is 16-10-1 ATS in season openers since 1980.
New England at New York Jets: The Patriots have covered five of their last six encounters with the Jets and have a streak of eight straight pointspread wins against them in New York. New England also is 16-8 ATS versus the division the past four years.

Carolina at St. Louis: The Panthers have covered the spread four games in a row against the Rams. Since 1980, St. Louis is 7-13-1 ATS as an opening game favorite.

Miami at Washington: The Redskins have covered four of their last five meetings with the Dolphins but Miami also is 7-1 ATS on the road versus non-conference foes.

Detroit at Oakland: The Raiders have covered four of their last five meetings with the Lions. Since 1980, Oakland is 7-2 ATS in home openers.

Chicago at San Diego: The Bears have covered four straight games versus the Chargers and own the AFC West with a remarkable 17-2-1 record ATS the last 20 meetings. Chicago is 7-3 ATS as an underdog in season openers the last 27 years.

Tampa Bay at Seattle: The Buccaneers are 1-7 ATS versus non-conference opponents their last eight and are 1-3 ATS versus the Seahawks their last four meetings. Seattle is 17-3 ATS in September versus less than .500 SU competition.

New York Giants at Dallas: The Giants are undefeated (5-0-1 ATS) in their last six games against the Cowboys and are 3-1-1 ATS versus them in Dallas. The Cowboys are 6-7 ATS as a favorite on opening day.

MONDAY, SEPT. 10

Baltimore at Cincinnati: The Bengals have covered four of their last five against the Ravens. The favorite in the Ravens-Bengals series (Cincinnati opened -3) is 6-1 the last seven games. Baltimore is 13-11 ATS on Monday Night Football, including 2-4 as a road underdog. Cincy is 5-10 ATS on MNF, including 1-1 as a home favorite.

Arizona at San Francisco: The Cardinals have covered three of their last four meetings with the Niners. Since 1980, Arizona is 2-6 ATS on Monday Night Football, but has never been a road underdog. With an ATS record of 33-13-1, San Francisco is the champion of MNF. The Niners are a superb 16-5-1 in the role of home favorite.

Are the above Sportsbook busters guaranteed? Of course not. But historians point out that by studying the past we’re better equipped to predict the future. That may be true for sports betting, too.

This article was written by Karol Lucan for http://www.thegreek.com-The Greek Sportsbook & Casino is host to one of the top online sportsbooks offering sports betting on NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and all other major sports. The Greek is a must have sports betting and entertainment portal with one of the largest wagering menus available online. Article reproductions must include a link pointing to http://www.thegreek.com



RON

515forums asked:




Positive outlook

After a season marred by scandals and a poor record Iowa looks to turn it around in 2008. 18 football players have been named to the 2007 fall academic all-Big Ten team, which is a good sign going into 2008. Hopefully the bad apples have left the tree. Douglas has transferred and hopefully both him and the University of Iowa can move forward. One way or another *knock on wood* we won’t have the same off the field problems this year.

The sophomores are experienced

Iowa had 31 first-year student-athletes see game action either on offense, defense or special teams in 2007. In addition to the 11 true freshmen, 20 redshirt freshmen saw the field. The Hawkeyes ranked third in the country in playing the most true and redshirt freshmen; North Carolina played 38 and Florida 33. Iowa tied for eighth nationally in playing 11 true freshmen.

Iowa had 11 true freshmen play in 2007: DT Cody Hundertmark, DB Cedric Everson, DE Christian Ballard, LB Jacody Coleman, DB Diauntae Morrow, LB Dezman Moses, WR Colin Sandeman, DB Jordan Bernstine, RB Jevon Pugh, TE Allen Reisner and OL Bryan Bulaga.

The 11 true freshmen are the most that have seen action under Kirk Ferentz in a single season. Iowa had seven true freshmen play in 2003 and 2000.

Ended on a Good Note

Iowa won four of its last six and just missed being selected for a bowl game. The Hawkeyes could return as many as 18 out of 24 starters (includes two kicking starters) for the 2008 campaign. Iowa was bowl eligible for the seventh straight season and finished in the Big Ten’s upper division for the sixth time in seven years. Nine starters return on offense,

Returning Starters

The Hawkeyes could return as many as 18 out of 24 starters (including the K/P).

Offense

Iowa loves to start the game on offense. Iowa has started on offense in 92 of its last 104 games. Iowa has started the game on offense in 94 of 110 games under Kirk Ferentz. The Hawkeyes scored 13 touchdowns and a field goal on their last 15 red zone possessions over the last four games in 2007.

On offense they could return 9. Iowa threw only seven interceptions in 2007 (six by Jake Christensen and one by Ricky Stanzi). The seven picks are the second-fewest thrown by an Iowa team. Iowa’s 2002 team established the school record for fewest interceptions (5). The Hawkeyes did not record a turnover in five games in 2007 (Northern Illinois, Iowa State, Wisconsin, Penn State and Michigan State).

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Iowa broke the school record for fewest turnovers in a season (13). The previous school record was 15 (nine interceptions and six fumbles), established in 1963 (eight games). Iowa ranked first in the Big Ten and 20th in the country in turnover margin (+8).

For 2007, Christensen completed 198-370 passes for 2,269 yards. The sophomore threw 17 touchdowns and only six interceptions. Christensen threw three touchdowns or more in three games in 2007 (Syracuse, Indiana and Western Michigan). He was 4-2 as a starter in home games and 13 of his 17 touchdown passes came in Kinnick Stadium. His passing yardage total (2,269) ranks 12th-best in a single-season at Iowa. In fact, it is believed that he became the first quarterback in NCAA Bowl Subdivision history to start his first two games against the same team.

The real question is: Can he be more accurate. The guy looked GREAT when he rolled outside the pocket, but when stood there he got sacked more than Drew Bledsoe!

TE Tony Moeaki sat out most of the 2007 season due to medical reasons. He will receive a redshirt! He was spotted as high as the top 10 TE during last season according to power rankings relating to this years draft.

Moeaki had been having a breakout season, prior to his injuries. In Iowa’s 35-0 win over Syracuse, the receiver had eight receptions for 112 yards and three touchdowns, which earned him rivals.com Big Ten Player of the Week and John Mackey Tight End of the Week accolades. All were career highs. He hauled in 14 passes for 170 yards in 2007. He was on the John Mackey Watch List, an award which goes to the top tight end in college football.

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Honored on the 2007 Sporting News Freshman all-Big Ten team were WR James Cleveland, OL Bryan Bulaga, DB Brett Greenwood, PK Daniel Murray and P Ryan Donahue. Iowa had the most players recognized on the team.

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Defense

As a unit, Iowa did not allow a touchdown until late in the second quarter at Wisconsin in game four - a streak of 13 quarters. The Hawkeyes didn’t allow a touchdown in four games (Northern Illinois, Syracuse, Iowa State and Illinois) in 2007.

The Hawkeye defense which ranked first in the conference in turnover margin and Red Zone defense and finished third in fewest points allowed (18.8 per game). They will return Six, and possibly seven starters return on defense. Senior Devan Moylan is petitioning for an extra year after sitting out most of the 2007 season with an injury.

First team all-Big Ten defensive tackle Mitch King is Iowa’s leading returnee on defense. Over 50 lettermen (only 37 last year) will be on Iowa’s spring roster.

Iowa ranked 13th in the nation in scoring defense (18.8), 20th in turnover margin (+8), 29th in rushing defense (122.0), 32nd in pass efficiency defense (115.7), 37th in punt returns (10.6).

FS Brett Greenwood intercepted an Illinois pass at the goal line to seal Iowa’s 10-6 victory over the then-18th-ranked Illini on Oct. 13. The play was nominated for the NCAAs weekly Pontiac Game Changing Performance Award.

DL Anton Narinskiy will return. He was a first team academic all-district honoree.

Special Teams

Doesn’t it **** when you have to brag about your punter? Not when you have this guy!

Punter Ryan Donahue punted 46 times for a 38.6 average through Iowa’s first seven games. Since the Hawkeyes’ contest at Purdue, the redshirt freshman raised his punting average to 41.1 on 86 kicks. The last five games he punted 40 times for a 44.0 average and downed eight inside the 20. Donahue had long kicks of 82 (Michigan State), 76 (Northwestern), 68 (Purdue) and 54 (Minnesota and Western Michigan) the last five contests.

Donahue broke two school punting records in 2007. The native of Evergreen Park, IL, established school records for punts in a single-season (86) and punt yardage (3,533). The previous records were held by Dave Holsclaw in 1978, 85 punts for 3,107 yards. I don’t know about you, but I dont think we want to re-set that record for most punts in a single season again anytime soon.

The redshirt freshman was named Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week Oct. 29, after averaging 51.6 yards on eight punts vs. Michigan State. Four of his eight punts eclipsed 50 yards, including an 82-yarder that is the second longest in school history. Donahue also earned freshman honorable mention all-American accolades by The Sporting News.

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Key Departures

Mike Humpal, Kenny Iwebima, Bryan Mattison and Charles Godfrey were all selected for the various post season bowls and will not be returning to the squad next year.

Offense

The losses are big as running back Albert Young and Damien Sims will have used up their eligibility. These 2 both finished in the top 20 all time in rush yards for the University of Iowa. Fullback Tom Busch will also be gone.

Defense

Gone will be linebackers Mike Klinkenborg and Mike Humpal, ends Bryan Mattisons and Kenny Iwebema and backs Adam Shada and Charles Godfrey.

Schedule for 2008 Season.

Aug. 30 Maine (Kirk used to coach there.)

Sept. 6 Florida International

Sept. 15 Iowa State

Sept 20 at Pittsburgh

Sept. 27 Northwestern

Oct. 4 at Michigan State

Oct. 11 at Indiana

Oct. 18 Wisconsin

Oct. 25 BYE

Nov. 1 at Illinois

Nov. 8 Penn State

Nov. 15 Purdue

Nov. 22 at Minnesota

Iowa has won 32 of its last 39 games (.821) in Kinnick Stadium, dating back to the 2002 season.

Again this year with no Ohio State and no Michigan on their schedule, Iowa has a chance to do extremely well this season. However, I thought the same thing last year when we went 6-6. They will open the season in Soldier Field against Northern Illinois once again this season. Homecoming has been scheduled for Indiana and as usual our big rivalry game, against Iowa State, is the 3rd game of the season. They have a shot at redemption after last years field goal festival in Jack Trice.

Iowa opened its 2007 conference schedule on the road (at Wisconsin) for the eighth time in nine years under Coach Ferentz. Iowa’s lone conference home opener, under Coach Ferentz, came in 2001 when it defeated Penn State. The Hawkeyes open the 2008 Big Ten schedule at home for the first time since 2001, vs. Northwestern.

Verbal Commitments

Iowa has the 39th ranked recruiting class according to Scout.com. Heres your recruits.

Recruit (# Stars) - Position - From - Ht/Wt

James Ferentz (3) - C - Iowa City High, IA - (6-2/250)

James is the son of current Iowa Head Coach Kirk Ferentz.

John Wienke (3) - QB - Tuscola HS, IL - (6-5/210)

Led his team to the state title and turned down offers from Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Miami (OH), Michigan and Purdue!

David Blackwell (3) - WLB - Cardinal Gibbons HS, Fort Lauderdale, FL - (6-1.5/208)

A multiple threat from his quarterback position in high school, Blackwell has the size and power to be a linebacker or running back on the college level.

Jonathan Gimm(3) - TE - Westfield HS, Houston, TX - (6-2/232)

As a junior Gimm was used primarily as a blocking tight end.

Brad Herman (3) - MLB - Metamora HS, IL - (6-4/220)

DeMarco Paine( 3) - CB - Hazelwood East HS, St. Louis, MO (5-10/166)

James Vandenberg (3) - QB- (Keokuk HS) Keokuk, IA (6-2/180)

High School Heisman Winner for the State of Iowa. Vandenburg finished his high school career by leading his team to a 3-A title and by setting a handful of passing records along the way. Among the records Vandenberg set are: most yards passing in a season (3,729), most TD passes in a season (49), most yards in a career (7,677) and most TD passes in a career (93). The senior also heads the list of 2,000-yard-plus passers in back-to-back seasons, racking up 2,654 yards in 2006. He Turned down an offer from Nebraska to play at Iowa.

Riley Reiff (3) - DE - Parkston HS, SD (6-6/230)

Standout wrestler who finished 34-0 and won his second Class B title at 215 pounds as a sophomore. Does this remind anyone else of Matt Roth?

Jack Swanson (3) - CB Naples HS, FL (5-10/175)

Jeff Brinson (3) - RB - Northeast HS, Saint Petersburg, FL 6-0/205

Talented running back who ran for over 1,000 yards in eight games as a sophomore and then finished his junior season with 1,197 yards and 23 touchdowns. He’s also one of the fastest backs around. He turned down offers from Michigan State, Florida and Kansas.

Khalif Staten (3) - WR - Abraham Lincoln HS, Brooklyn, NY (6-2/218)

Staten set a New York state record as a junior with 18 receptions in one game.

Nathan Guillory (3) - RB - Coffeyville, KS (5-9/180)

A JuCo Transfer who will be a Sophomore when he starts practice at Iowa.

Trent Mossbrucker (2) - K -Mooresville HS, IN (5-10.5/192)

He earned 1st place at Purdue’s Elite Quarterback Camp for speed passing accuracy. He is looking to be a kicker at the college level. His longest field goal kicked is 49 yards as a junior, Trent is 19 of 27 (field goals), 56 of 62 (extra points), and has kicked off 105 times with an average of just over 55 yards with 44 touchbacks. He’s also punted 55 times for an average of 32.8 yards. As a quarterback he’s passed for over 2,600 yards and 22 passing, 16 rushing touchdowns. I’m thinking he could be a fake FG threat?

Joe Gaglione (2)- MLB - Lake Catholic HS, Mentor, OH (6-3.5/213)

David Cato (2) - S -Mansfield Summit HS; Arlington, TX (5-10/190)

J.D. Griggs (2) - DE -Piscataway Township HS, NJ (6-4/220)

Jason Semmes (2) - DE - St. Mary Preparatory School; Orchard Lake, MI (6-3/220)

Marcus Malbrough (2) - DE West Brook Sr HS; Beaumont, TX (6-5/230)

Jewel Hampton (2) - RB Warren Central HS; Indianapolis, IN (5-11/200)

Injury Report

Ferentz said that offensive lineman Dace Richardson had knee surgery in the fall and emphasized that it was not a “standard” ACL repair. He said it is difficult to predict how long the recovery will take or when he will be back to full speed. Tight end Tony Moeaki’s hand/wrist will be 100 percent in June and fullback Jordan McLaughlin had surgery for a sports hernia last week. Wide receiver Andy Brodell “should be fine.”

Transfers

Dominique Douglas, Cedric Everson and Abe Satterfield have decided to transfer from the University of Iowa and will continue their collegiate football careers elsewhere. None of the three will be on Iowa’s roster when classes resume in January.



VANCE

Mark Grey asked:


With 32 teams competing in the NFL leagues each year it would be difficult for me to review them all in one article, therefore here is a summary of some of the more popular and successful NFL teams through the previous years.

Firstly, the most recent winners of the Super Bowl – The Pittsburgh Steelers from Pennsylvania, they are in the North Division of the AFC, and were founded in 1933. In there time the Steelers have won the Superbowl 6 times, making them one of the more successful NFL teams to date. One of the more recent victorious times for the Steelers is known as the Chuck Noll Era when they hired him as their coach and he bought with it a change in their luck, with the retirement of Chuck Noll came the hiring of Bill Cowher who led the Steelers to the playoffs consecutively for the first six years. Their latest success comes at the pride of Art Rooney´s five sons who have an 80% share in the team.

The next team to mention is the Greenbay Packers, as they have won the Championship more times than any other NFL team – a total of 12 times. They were founded in 1919 by Earl Lambeau, hence the name of the field where the team plays, Lambeau Field. They have won the Super Bowl three times with the first two being consecutive with victory in the Super Bowl I and II in 1967 and 1968. The packers pride themselves to e the only non-profit team that is community owned in the professional major leagues in the United States. Their rivals are the Chicago Bears who they have competed against I over 170 games, other rivals include the Minnesota Vikings and the Dallas Cowboys.

With these two NFL teams mentioned the remain teams making up the NFL are as follows;

The AFC Conference consists of;

East – Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots and New York Jets

North – Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns and the Pittsburgh Steelers

South – Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans

West – Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers

The NFL Teams competing in the NFC are as follows;

East – Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Redskins

North – Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings

South – Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers

West - Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams, San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks

This is the full, comprehensive list of all 32 teams currently competing for the Super Bowl each season and regardless of which team you follow there is something for you at QuarterbackFan.com – an amazing site not to be missed by any NFL fan.



RICK

Cindy Ferguson asked:


By Cindy Ferguson

The current AFC West Division Champions of the NFL, the San Diego Chargers, defeated the Indianapolis Colts in overtime 23-17. This win was a surprise for the fans since the Chargers were struggling at the beginning of the season with a record of 4-8. However, the Chargers have found their winning ways and have steak together. Besides, his coach Norv Turner has also steak to the plan and has support his players even when things don’t go their way. That was shown in Saturday’s game especially in overtime, when Darren Sproles did a 22-yard touchdown that gave the Chargers the victory. 

During the game things were equally managed by the two teams; the Colts had the great presence of their superstar and MVP quarterback Peyton Manning, who had a solid performance by converting 25 of 42 for 310 yards with no interceptions and completing a touchdown. Their running back Joseph Addai was not clearly good as he only got 44 rushing yards on 16 carries. Team’s receiver Reggie Wayne for his part, after some absence in the first half, appeared in great way in the second half ending with 4 receptions for 129 yards. Wayne also converted a key touchdown of 72-yards to give the lead to the Colts at the beginning of the third quarter. 

On the other hand, the Chargers had great performances from their running back Darren Sproles, who substituted starting running back LaDainian Tomlinson and who gained 105 yards on the ground and 45 yards on five receptions in the game. This 5-6 ft running back also converted two touchdowns, one of 9-yards and the 22-yard winner touchdown in overtime. Sproles was a real headache for the Colts the whole game, and Indianapolis couldn’t find a way to stop him. Another key player for the Chargers was their punter Mike Scifres, who was really amazing by averaging 52.7 yards on 6 punts inside the 20, and also averaging a net of 51.7 yards. With this Scifres also broke a couple of post season’s records, the best net average and the 5 punts in a NFL playoff game that Green Bay’s Craig Hentrich set in 1998.

The effort of these players, along with that of their quarterback Philip Rivers, who controlled the Chargers’ offense, and the contribution of rest of their teammates, gave the team a positive result and the victory at the end. 

The coach of the Chargers, Norv Turner, was really pleased with his team’s effort and how they are finding their winning ways again. On the other hand, Colts’ coach Tony Dungy was really disappointed with his team, especially because they converted too many doubt penalties and didn’t convert some key plays. Dungy also expressed that Scifres was a key player for the Chargers. “He was the difference in the game,” recognized Colts coach Tony Dungy. “He just punted us in the hole all night long with long, high punts, stopping inside the 10-yard line.”

The next playoff game for the San Diego Chargers will be on Sunday January 11th against the Pittsburgh Steelers at the Heinz Field. 



ANTOINE

Chris Limburg asked:


The year 2008 was kind of a down year for the Indianapolis Colts.  For the 6th time in his career Peyton Manning was one and done in the playoffs losing 23-17 to the San Diego Chargers in the Wildcard round.   Moreover, last year was somewhat of an off year for Manning statistically despite winning his 3rd league MVP award and I witnessed firsthand what it is like to have a QB that is trying to shake the rust off after having off season knee injury.  Manning heated up later in the year but unfortunately many owners did not have the supporting cast that I had to hold the fort down and thus missed out on the post season party.  In fact my Manning experience of last year has soured me on Tom Brady this year.  You just cannot afford to play without a QB for the first 4 or 5 games of the season and that is what I endured last year.  Furthermore, Brady’s injury is said to be far more serious than Manning’s was a year ago.  The Colts will once again be good but will they make the playoffs?  I am not so sure as Tennessee is already solid and both Jacksonville and Houston are primed to be far better this upcoming season.  But again this is fantasy so I will focus my energy on the Colts position players and what they offer up in terms of fantasy potential in 2009.

As mentioned Manning did not have one of his best statistical outings of his career but he did enough to secure his 3rd league MVP award.  I lived and died with Manning for the first 6-7 weeks before he finally started to heat up down the stretch.  The Colts are heading into a major transformation this year as Head Coach Tony Dungy has retired and has been replaced by Jim Caldwell and 2 other prominent members of their staff as offensive coordinator Tom Moore and offensive line coach Howard Mudd are expected to retire due to changes in the NFL’s pension policies.  Moore would be a huge loss for Manning as he represents the only offensive coordinator that he has worked with in the NFL.  Nonetheless, despite all of the turmoil in the coaching staff and the departure of Marvin Harrison look for Manning to continue his assault on the NFL’s passing records.  Why?  For starters, Manning is just that good and he still has most of his weapons at his disposal including Reggie Wayne, Anthony Gonzalez, and Dallas Clark.  Furthermore, another major variable in Manning’s favor this year is that center Jeff Saturday will be healthy.  Ahhh I know what you are saying.  “What could a center possibly have to with fantasy performance”?  TONS!!!!!  I watched most of the Colts games last year and it was painfully obvious that the whole offensive line was completely out of sink without Saturday’s presence and this lead to a lack of continuity and rhythm from the whole offense.  The Colts will not have it easy this year.  The AFC South is markedly improved than in previous years.  You know Tennessee is solid but Jags and the Texans both look to be much improved this year and the Texans in particular are specifically addressing their defense year in and year out in an all out effort to stop Manning and the Colts.  Expect Manning this year to post his usual numbers in 2009 of about 4000-4500 yds passing and about 30-35 TD’s.  Look for Manning to be either the 2nd or 3rd QB taken this summer behind Drew Brees somewhere in the middle of round 2.

Joseph Addai is a complete joke.  I have thought Addai has been overrated since his inception into the NFL in 2006 and now I pretty much think he just plain *****.  The Colts were obviously hoping that Addai would be the next Edgerrin James but has not even come close to living up to that standard.  For starters, he is injury prone and it seems like he truly doesn’t want to play with pain.  Furthermore, Addai also vanishes from far too many games for my liking leaving Dominic Rhodes (who has since departed to Buffalo) to do the dirty work.  If you remember that is exactly what went down in the Super Bowl against the Bears a few years ago.  Rhodes was clearly the main back n that game and I think it is funny because this year someone inevitably will draft Addai high simply because he is a RB.  WHY?????? Again, read my article “Draft RB’s Early?  Buyer Beware” to gain some insight as to why that is NOT a good idea.  Apparently, I am not the only one not sold on Joseph as the Colts used their first round selection on the stud RB Donald Brown out of Connecticut. Brown will immediately step in and at least split carries with Addai if not more and to be quite frank I look for him to be the much more polished back by the end of the year.  Personally, I think Addai is no more than a number 3 back or a Flex option for 2009 but you can mark my words he will be gone in most drafts no later than the early 3rd round.  I could be wrong but I doubt it.  As for Brown, keep an eye on him in the middle rounds and don’t be scared to take a chance on him this year.  Why??? Well, let me just say Chris Johnson, Matt Forte, and Steve Slaton.  Nuff said.

Obviously, all the Colts receivers are solid fantasy options.  Wayne, is a surefire number 1 WR and is a model of consistency much in the same manner Harrison was for so many years.  Although, Wayne is solid I would caution not to select him ahead of the following receivers:  Larry Fitzgerald, Calvin Johnson, Andre Johnson, or Randy Moss.  That is the crème of the crop in terms of NFL receivers these days but if you go a different route on draft day and get some RB’s early you may be looking at the likes of Wayne, Steve Smith, Greg Jennings, or Marques Colston as your number 1 WR.  I’m not saying that there is anything wrong with that but don’t expect Wayne to be a Fitz or Megatron in terms of his big play ability.

Watch out for Gonzalez this year.  The former Ohio State product is heading into his 3rd NFL season which is historically when many receivers break out.  Add to the equation that Harrison is gone and you realize that ‘09 could be Gonzo’s year.  I look for Gonzalez to break the 1000 yard plateau this year for the first time and to pop it in the end zone 8-10 times.  Those numbers would make him a nice number 2 fantasy wide out though on draft day don’t give him that much respect. Not yet.  A year from now may be completely different as we may be talking about Gonzalez in the stud capacity.  For now, treat Gonzo as a number 3 WR with plenty of upside and expect him to go around the mid-way point of most drafts this summer probably around the 7th-8th round.  The Colts also drafted WR Austin Collie out of BYU in the 4th round of this year’s draft.  Keep an eye on Collie as he essentially fills the role Gonzalez did a couple years ago when he first broke into the league.

Dallas Clark presently remains one of the elite TE’s in the NFL along with Jason Witten, Antonio Gates, and Tony Gonzalez.  Not much to say here about Clark.  A surefire number 1 fantasy option that will continue to catch all kinds of passes from Manning and well worth the 5th-6th round pick it will take to secure his services this fall.

Adam Vinatieri is a number 1 fantasy kicker based on his reputation, he plays in a dome, and the Colts score a lot of points.  That is pretty much my equation for kickers and the ALWAYS represent my final pick in drafts.  The Colts DST is intriguing because of Bob Sanders, and Dwight Freeney and can be used in a pinch depending upon the match up.  However, in terms of nabbing a week in and week out DST there are far better options at this point than the Colts.  Next up: The Houston Texans



MILES

Cindy Ferguson asked:


We’ve done comparisons to Dan Marino and Tom Brady the past weeks, we’ve praised their efforts in and out of the field and while analyzing them, we have also mentioned Peyton Manning in a 2-3 brief sentence; so now, let’s focus on Peyton Manning.

Again, we will try to concentrate on Peyton Manning only, so pardon us if by chance we mention someone else on the way.

Our beloved Manning has been to 7 Pro Bowls, including 6 straight from 2002 to 2007, he owns two MVP awards in 03-04, and he also has many awards and honors that could fill several NFL history books. Now, how much does this matter for us writers and you fans? Are we wondering what he had done to deserve such luck?

For years, Peyton had tried without success to win the game, the big game! Tom Brady had already won three Super Bowls, wounding Manning and the Colts multiple times in the process. After years of getting to the postseason, but disappointing, many started to wonder if Manning would ever once finish what Brady had done 3 times already.

In our stat book, he broke the mark for passing touchdowns, passer rating and consecutive games with at least four touchdown passes in a single season in 2004, but none of that seemed to matter to those in most NFL limits (in particular fans)…until he lifted the Lombardi Trophy.

In the early months of 2007, Peyton Manning led the Colts to Super Bowl XLI vs. the Chicago Bears. During the game, Chicago’s Devin Hester returned the early kickoff 92 yards into the touchdown zone; Manning without delay, threw an interception on the Colts’ opening offensive series. For those who witnessed that play and the game, on the sidelines, it appeared that fear started to grasp the quarterback’s shoulder pads. For those who know the game, this play has always been avoided on any type of division football, especially pro.

So, for sports fans, article writers and critics, Manning was missing yet another break for prominence. Why does Manning always suffocate in big situations? Was he going to blow his chance like all the years before, was this a plan or strategy?

As soon as he threw the pick, Manning saw his mistake and immediately responded with a touchdown pass to Reggie Wayne after Chicago’s secondary lost the receiver in coverage. The game seemed close through on both sides and the final score could have been much inferior, but again Manning put in a brilliant 25 of 38 for 247 yards, two touchdown passer performance in the Colts’ 29-17 victory. Manning was named MVP for the game, but even better was the overseen Super Bowl curse he got off his back.

The big and deserved smile could not be better and after such a long time of being battered by the critics, the Patriots and even fans, Peyton Manning was at last a Super Bowl champion.

They say you can loose a single battle, but nobody can take the honor away and for Peyton Manning, going into combat for the 08-09 campaign, he will be aiming up this time and things will look achievable, from a positive point of view.



THERON

Chuck Berkley asked:


They say original is better, but the NFL has always been a copycat league and Mike Shanahan has acquired from the Patriots historic 2007 offense.

The Broncos sense like the unfasten trend fits their offensive weapons and they are the early season leaders in yards gained and points. Anticipate the heavy passing to continue.

For all those football methodical lovers, who reckon the Broncos’ offensive attack seemed a little like last year’s Patriots, with spread formations and a lot of passes, let me inform that “you know the game and you’re right”!! Offensively, they are matched up with what they were doing in 2007, now the question is…Is it working? We have little disbelieve about the success. The Broncos are 2-0 and lead the league in yards gained and points. Early to make a statement, but seems to be working.

The Broncos have passed the ball at an amazing rate. Cutler threw 50 passes on Sunday September 14th against San Diego, which tied a franchise record. The 2007 Patriots were the highest-scoring offense in NFL history and asking the Broncos to twin their numbers would be foolish, but Denver thinks the wide-open style fits their section and quarterbacks coach Jeremy Bates has gotten a lot of recognition for his battle full plan.

We’ve noticed the Broncos also studied the Steelers, Chargers and the Saints who they played on Sept the 21st; these teams are all pass-heavy.

The Broncos have averaged 4.9 yards per carry running the ball, but have been most effective when throwing. In the third quarter against San Diego the Broncos didn’t get a first down. They were a little more conventional that quarter, especially in the second series when they ran twice, threw a short screen and punted… sounds familiar right?

Even with similar plays, Denver has the personnel to employ a pass-heavy offense. The receiving corps is deep enough that Keary Colbert, a high-priority free-agent signee this offseason, was traded to Seattle on Tuesday.

Brandon Marshall, Eddie Royal, Brandon Stokley and Darrell Jackson are the top four and Tony Scheffler is a talented tight end. Stokley was on a great passing offense in Indianapolis from 2003-06, with Pro Bowlers Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne.

We think, from top to bottom, receiving corps-wise, Denver is way better than in the old days. They’ve got a lot of depth at receiver, a lot of good players. We wouldn’t trade Eddie and ‘B-Marsh’ for anybody else right now in the league. Besides, the Broncos also have an offensive line that has allowed only one sack and that was credited as a team sack to San Diego when Cutler fumbled on a disputed call late in Sunday’s game and believe when we say, it happens!!!!

No matter what the Broncos’ record is this season as their offense should be fun to watch from beginning to end.

We’ve been watching, checking and taking notes on NFL games for years and the fact is that this is a copycat league and everyone looks at everyone, everyone takes plays and squeezes them here and there a little bit, there is nothing wrong with that, bottom line is winning.



CLEMENT

Jeffery Reed asked:


There are 4 games slated this week for the 2008 NFL playoffs. As I see it 3 of the home teams will win along with 1 underdog.

Dallas Cowboys - New York Giants. I consider myself somewhat of a homer. I grew up in Louisiana and I was a New Orleans Saints / Archie Manning fan from child hood. I like both of Archies’ son and always root for them to do well. Eli played his college ball in Mississippi where I now reside so I followed his college career pretty closely.

I think that the Giants moral victory against the Patriots in week 17 did a lot more for their confidence than most people realize. Eli finally got one monkey off his back last week with his first playoff victory. A little known fact is that Michael Spurlock, a kick returner on the other team is the guy who succeeded Eli at quarterback for Ole Miss.

I think the momentum that the Giants now have along with the Tony Roma - Jessica Simpson curse will propel the Giants to victory in the first ever playoff meeting between these two teams.

In keeping with the Manning theme, I expect the Colts to take care of the Chargers with not much problem. The Chargers handed the Colts one of the two loses this season that really mattered. Peyton Manning had a terrible day with 6 interceptions. No way that happenes again!! After a slow start, Norv Turner has actually taken the Chargers further than Marty did last year, but I expect that run to end this week.

The Jaguars squeezed by the team with my namesake as a kicker last week (Pittsburgh Steelers / Jeff Reed). The Jaguars have played well all seaon long, but with the undefeated Patriots and record setting quarterback, Tom Brady along with record setting receiver Randy Moss, I just don’t see much hope for the Jaguars. Moss broke Jerry Rice’s single season touchdown record this season. Again, I am a homer and saw Jerry Rice play at least 5 times in his senior season in college. I was rooting for the record to stand, but to no avail. I was also hoping that Tom would not break Peyton’s touchdown record that he had just obtained a couple of seasons ago, but again to no avail. They same touchdown pass broke both records. I wonder who kept the ball.

The last game of the weekend will be played between the Green Bay Packers and the Seattle Seahawks. Mike Holgreen takes his team to Green Bay to play aginst the team that he won a Super Bowl with. Again, I am being a homer and rooting for the Mississippi connection of Brett Favre to Donald Driver. I just don’t see Seattle having the fire power to take down the Packers.

Check back next week for my predictions and to see how I did with this week’s predictions.



LORENZO